Chinese Proverbs
Without rice, even the cleverest housewife cannot cook.
Add legs to the snake after you have finished drawing it.
An ant may well destroy a whole dam.
It is easy to dodge a spear that comes in front of you but hard to keep harms away from an arrow shot from behind.
One cannot refuse to eat just because there is a chance of being choked.
A book holds a house of gold.
Distant water won't help to put out a fire close at hand.
A good fortune may forbode a bad luck, which may in turn disguise a good fortune.
No wind, no waves.
Once bitten by a snake, he/she is scared all his/her life at the mere sight of a rope.
A smile will gain you ten more years of life.
Of all the strategems, to know when to quit is the best.
Vicious as a tigeress can be, she never eats her own cubs.
You think you lost your horse? Who knows, he may bring a whole herd back to you someday.
One monk shoulders water by himself; two can still share the labor among them. When it comes to three, they have to go thirsty.
You can't catch a cub without going into the den.
Only when all contribute their firewood can they build up a strong fire.
Paper can't wrap up a fire.
There are always ears on the other side of the wall.
Regular feet can't be affected by irregular shoes.
Your fingers won't be of the same length.
Shed no tears until seeing the coffin.
Flowing water never stale.
You won't help shoots grow by pulling them up higher.
If you do not study hard when young you'll end up bewailing your failures as you grow up.
An inch of time is an inch of gold but you can't buy that inch of time with an inch of gold.
A Jade stone is useless before it is processed; a man is good-for-nothing until he is educated.
You can't expect both ends of a sugar cane are as sweet.
A tiger never returns to his prey he did not finish off.
The longer the night lasts, the more our dreams will be.
Even a hare will bite when it is cornered.
Do not want others to know what you have done? Better not have done it anyways.
Donkey lips do not fit onto a horse's mouth.
Dream different dreams while on the same bed.
Even a hare will bite when it is cornered.
Flies never visit an egg that has no crack.
Have a mouth as sharp as a dagger but a heart as soft as tofu.
How can you expect to find ivory in a dog's mouth?
