26
| PROVERB | If you play with fire, you’ll get burned |
MEANING | If you get involved in something dangerous or beyond your abilities, you will probably experience negative consequences |
EXAMPLE | “Don’t make him angry. If you play with fire, you’ll get burned.” |
亲力亲为 |
27 | PROVERB | If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself |
MEANING | Don’t depend on someone else to do a good job; do it yourself |
EXAMPLE | “I asked my roommate to wash the dishes, but they ended up super filthy! I guess it’s true what they say: if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” |
知己知彼 |
28 | PROVERB | Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer |
MEANING | If someone is your enemy, treat them like a friend so you can be ready if they ever try to betray you |
EXAMPLE | “We don’t trust each other, but we have to be nice to each other because we work for the same company. I’m worried about him stealing my promotion, so I’m going to keep being nice to him. Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer, and all that.” |
知识就是力量 |
29 | PROVERB | Knowledge is power |
MEANING | The more you know, the more powerful you can be in different areas of your life |
EXAMPLE | “When we were kids, our parents taught us how to swim. That knowledge helped me to save my cousin’s life when he was 5 years old. Knowledge is power.” |
欢笑是一剂良药 |
30 | PROVERB | Laughter is the best medicine. |
MEANING | When you’re in a difficult situation, laughing can make it easier to get through that situation |
EXAMPLE | “I’m sorry to hear about your dog. Want to watch a funny movie? Sometimes, laughter is the best medicine.” |
虎父无犬子 |
31 | PROVERB | Like father, like son |
MEANING | Said when a son is similar to his father; also, “Like mother, like daughter” |
EXAMPLE | “Ryan started playing hockey at a very young age. He’s just like his dad. Like father, like son.” |
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32 | PROVERB | No man is an island |
MEANING | No one is truly capable of living alone. We need human connection to be healthy |
EXAMPLE | “You can’t just abandon your friends and family. No man is an island.” |
治人者必先自治、責人者必先自責、成人者必須自成 |
33 | PROVERB | People who live in glass houses should not throw stones |
MEANING | Don’t criticize someone if you’re not perfect either; don’t be a hyprocrite |
EXAMPLE | “Why are you always bothering her about being addicted to her phone? You’ve been smoking for 20 years and haven’t been able to give it up. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.” |
只要功夫深,铁杵磨成针 |
34 | PROVERB | Practice makes perfect |
MEANING | The more you do something, the better you will become at it |
EXAMPLE | “Don’t give up on learning the violin. Practice makes perfect.” |
早期的鸟儿有虫吃 |
35 | PROVERB | The early bird gets the worm |
MEANING | People who wake up early or who get to places early have a better chance of success |
EXAMPLE | “I got to the ticket office before anyone else. I got front row seats to the show! The early bird gets the worm.” |
敌人的敌人就是朋友 |
36 | PROVERB | The enemy of my enemy is my friend |
MEANING | If someone whom I don’t like doesn’t like someone else whom I don’t like, we can act like friends and unite against the other person (common in war) |
EXAMPLE | “I don’t like you, you don’t like me. But I think we can agree that we both HATE Daniel. Let’s work together and get him fired! The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?” |
这山望着那山高 |
37 | PROVERB | The grass is always greener on the other side |
MEANING | People always want what they don’t have |
EXAMPLE | A: “I’m jealous of all the free time my single friends have.” |
B: “Yeah, but your friends are probably jealous of you too in some ways. The grass is always greener on the other side.” |
笔诛胜于剑伐 |
38 | PROVERB | The pen is mightier than the sword |
MEANING | If you’re trying to convince someone of something, words and ideas are stronger than using physical force (common in politics) |
EXAMPLE | “We must avoid this war and use diplomacy to solve our problems. The pen is mightier than the sword.” |
金窝银窝,不如自家草窝 |
39 | PROVERB | There is no place like home |
MEANING | Your home is the most comfortable place in the world |
EXAMPLE | “What a tiring vacation! I’m glad to be back in my own bed again. There’s no place like home.” |
天下没有免费的午餐 |
40 | PROVERB | There is no such thing as a free lunch. |
MEANING | Nothing is free. Even the things that are free have a hidden cost |
EXAMPLE | “His bank gave him $50 for free, but he had to commit to opening a credit card account. There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” |
机不可失 |
41 | PROVERB | There is no time like the present |
MEANING | Don’t wait to do something. Do it now. |
EXAMPLE | “Why don’t you stop talking about needing to call your mom? Just CALL her! There is no time like the present.” |
会哭的孩子有奶吃 |
42 | PROVERB | The squeaky wheel gets the grease |
MEANING | The person who complains in a situation is more likely to get something. |
EXAMPLE | A: “I just don’t understand why she’s received so many promotions, and I’m still at the bottom of the company!” |
B: “She complains a lot. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” |
时间就是金钱 |
43 | PROVERB | Time is money |
MEANING | Don’t waste your time or other people’s time; also, if you can use your time to make money in some way, you should do that. |
EXAMPLE | “Hurry up! Time is money!” |
三个臭皮匠顶一个诸葛亮 |
44 | PROVERB | Two heads are better than one |
MEANING | It’s easier to do something as a team than by yourself |
EXAMPLE | “I’m stuck on this project. Can you help me out? Two heads are better than one.” |
以牙还牙,错上加错 |
45 | PROVERB | Two wrongs don’t make a right |
MEANING | Trying to get revenge on someone who has hurt you will only make things worse |
EXAMPLE | “I know she made you angry, but did you have to steal her phone? Two wrongs don’t make a right.” |
入乡随俗 |
46 | PROVERB | When in Rome, do as the Romans do |
MEANING | When you are in a new place or situation, try to act like the majority of people in that place or situation. |
EXAMPLE | A: “You’ve been eating a lot of bread and cheese on this Paris vacation.” |
B: “Hey, when in Rome.” |
越挫越勇 |
47 | PROVERB | When the going gets tough, the tough get going |
MEANING | When a situation becomes difficult, strong people don’t give up; they work harder |
EXAMPLE | “My great grandfather survived the Great Depression. You know the phrase, ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going?’ That was my great grandfather.” |
无风不起浪 |
48 | PROVERB | Where there’s smoke, there’s fire |
MEANING | If something seems wrong, it probably is; also, there is usually some truth to a rumor |
EXAMPLE | “Matilda came to school with a black eye today. She cried when I asked her about it after class and didn’t want to say anything about her parents. I don’t want to speculate too much, but where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire.” |
牛不吃水强按头 |
49 | PROVERB | You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink it |
MEANING | You can try to help someone by giving good advice, but you can’t force them to accept it or follow it |
EXAMPLE | “She tried to help her brother find a job by improving his resume, but he didn’t do anything with it. I guess you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink it.” |
人生不如意十之八九 |
50 | PROVERB | You can’t always get what you want |
MEANING | Don’t complain if you don’t get what you want |
EXAMPLE | A: I really wanted to see that movie, but I didn’t have enough money last week |
B: It happens. You can’t always get what you want, right? |