12 Chinese Sayings about Life

How do you view life in general? Is it sweet, or is it hard? What attitude do you think we should have for a fulfilling life? These questions are well discussed and answered in these Chinese sayings about life.

In our lives, we experience joy, happiness, laughter, success, applause, love, friendship … as well as sadness, zest, jealousy, tears, failure… at the same time. It is difficult to generalize the taste of life, although we definitely share certain views and feelings as Chinese people do.

12 Chinese sayings about life

Hopefully, the Chinese wisdom will give you some inspiration,  thoughts; maybe even motivation to learn them in Chinese.

1. 

   活到老，学到老

   huó dào lǎo, xué dào lǎo

   A man is never too old to learn.

    [Tweet “活到老，学到老 A man is never too old to learn.@Chinese4kids”]

2. 

   花有重开日，人无再少年

   huā yǒu chóng kāi rì, rén wú zài shào nián,

   Flowers may bloom again, but a person never has the chance to be young again. 

    [Tweet “花有重开日，人无再少年 Flowers may bloom again, but a person never has the chance to be young again.@Chinese4kids”]

3. 

   人无完人，金无足赤

   rén wú wán rén, jīn wú zú chì

   It is as impossible to find a perfect man as it is to find 100 percent pure gold.

    

4. 

   路遥知马力，日久见人心

   lù yáo zhī mǎ lì, rì jiǔ jiàn rén xīn

   As distance tests a horse’s strength, so does time reveal a person’s real character. 

    [Tweet “路遥知马力，日久见人心 As distance tests a horse’s strength, so does time reveal a person’s real character. @Chinese4kids”]

5. 

   凡人不可貌相, 海水不可斗量 

   fán rén bù kě mào xiàng, hǎi shuǐ bù kě dòu liàng

   As a man cannot be known by his looks, neither can the sea be fathomed by a gourd. 

    

6. 

   风无常顺，兵无常胜

   fēng wú cháng shùn, bīng wú cháng shèng

   A boat can’t always sail with the wind; an army can’t always win battles. 

    

7. 

   水满则溢

   shuǐ mǎn zé yì

   Water surges only to overflow. 

    

8. 

   难得糊涂

   nan dé hú tu

   Where ignorance is bliss, it’s folly to be wise. 

    

9. 
   没有规矩不成方圆
   méi yǒu guī ju bù chéng fāng yuán
   Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards

   [Tweet “没有规矩不成方圆 Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards. @Chinese4kids”]

    

10. 

    否极泰来 

    pǐ jí tài lái

    Things at the worst will mend.

     [Tweet “否极泰来 Things at the worst will mend. @Chinese4kids”]

    11.

    身体力行

    shēn tǐ lì xíng

    Practice what you preach.

     

11. 

    吃得苦中苦,方为人上人

    chī dé kǔ zhōng kǔ, fāng wéi rén shàng rén

    No pains, no gains.

     [Tweet “吃得苦中苦,方为人上人 No pains, no gains.@Chinese4kids”]

You may be also interested:

• 16 Chinese Proverbs on Teaching and Learning
• Learn Chinese Vocabulary with 10 Famous Chinese Proverbs
• Chinese Proverbs on Gratitude
• 9 CHINESE LEARNING POSTERS FOR HOMESCHOOL AND CLASSROOM