Common Mandarin proverbs and sayings (yanyu and xiehouyu), a folk-wisdom idiom style distinct from the formal four-character chengyu decks. Front: the Mandarin word or phrase (pinyin romanization in parentheses). Back: English meaning.
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- 滴水穿石 (dī shuǐ chuàn shí)
- Dripping water pierces stone; persistence achieves what strength cannot
- 千里之行始于足下 (qiān lǐ zhī xíng shǐ yú zú xià)
- A thousand-mile journey begins with a single step
- 玉不琢不成器 (yù bù zhuó bù chéng qì)
- Jade must be carved to become a tool; people must be refined through learning
- 知己知彼，百战不殆 (zhī jǐ zhī bǐ, bǎi zhàn bù dài)
- Know yourself and know your opponent; you will never lose in a hundred battles
- 三人行必有我师 (sān rén xíng bì yǒu wǒ shī)
- When three people walk together, one of them can be my teacher
- 知足常乐 (zhī zú cháng lè)
- Contentment brings constant happiness
- 厚德载物 (hòu dé zài wù)
- Great virtue carries all things; goodness supports the world
- 失之毫厘，谬以千里 (shī zhī háo lí, miù yǐ qiān lǐ)
- A small error by a hair's breadth leads to a thousand-mile mistake
- 桃李不言，下自成蹊 (táo lǐ bù yán, xià zì chéng xī)
- A peach and plum tree speak not, yet people naturally make a path beneath them
- 金无足赤，人无完人 (jīn wú zú chì, rén wú wán rén)
- There is no absolutely pure gold, nor any perfect person
- 吃一堑，长一智 (chī yī qiàn, zhǎng yī zhì)
- Every bitter experience teaches a lesson; hardship yields wisdom
- 一日之计在于晨 (yī rì zhī jì zài yú chén)
- The plan for the day is made in the morning
- 一年之计在于春 (yī nián zhī jì zài yú chūn)
- The plan for the year is made in spring
- 海纳百川 (hǎi nà bǎi chuān)
- The sea embraces all rivers; greatness comes from accepting all
- 大器晚成 (dà qì wǎn chéng)
- Great talent matures late; significant achievement takes time