Chinese Proverbs: 13 Notable Sayings About Family & Relationships

Chinese proverbs can be a fascinating source of cultural insight.

They are short and clever sayings that contain life-advice and reflect shared values and attitudes.

And if you’re learning the language, these sayings can be a fun way to pick up new vocabulary.

In this video we cover 13 common proverbs about family & relationships.

13 Chinese Proverbs (A summary of the video above)

有其父，必有其子。yǒu qí fù, bì yǒu qí zǐ.

Like father, like son.

有 yǒu: to have

其 qí: his

父 fù: father

必 bì: certainly

有 yǒu: to have

其 qí: his

子 zǐ : son

金窝，银窝，不如自家的狗窝。jīn wō, yín wō, bù rú zì jiā de ɡǒu wō.

East to west, home is best. "gold nest, silver nest, not as good as one's family kennel"

金窝 jīn wō: gold nest

银窝 yín wō: silver nest

不如 bù rú: not as good as

自家 zì jiā: own

的 de: particle

狗窝 gǒu wō: kennel

不当家，不知柴米贵。bù dānɡ jiā，bù zhī chái mǐ ɡuì.

If you don't run the family, you don't know the responsibility involved."not manage the household, not know firewood & rice precious"

Original meaning: One can’t tell the cost of the firewood and rice without running the family.

不 bù: not

当家 dānɡ jiā: to manage the household

不知 bù zhī: not to know

柴 chái: firewood

米 mǐ: rice

贵 ɡuì: precious / expensive

儿行千里母担忧。ér xíng qiān lǐ mǔ dān yōu.

When children travel far, mothers worry. "child travels 1,000 li (500 km) mother worries"

儿 ér: child / son

行 xíng: travel

千里 qiān lǐ: 500 km

母 mǔ: mother

担忧 dān yōu: worry

家和万事兴。jiā hé wàn shì xīnɡ.

If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand."family harmonious everything prospers"

This expression means: If a family is harmonious everything will go well (and vice versa).

家 jiā: family

和 hé: harmony

万事 wàn shì: all things

兴 xīnɡ: to rise

克勤于邦，克俭于家。kè qín yú bānɡ，kè jiǎn yú jiā.

Be diligent in the state, and thrifty in the home.

This expression means: to serve the country, one must be able to work hard. In charge of housekeeping, one must be able to be frugal. Simply put, it means being able to work tirelessly for the country's major events and live a frugal family life.

克 kè: to be able to

勤 qín: diligent

于 yú: in / at

邦 bānɡ: country / state

克 kè: to be able to

俭 jiǎn: frugal / thrifty

于 yú: in / at

家 jiā: home / family

儿孙自有儿孙福。ér sūn zì yǒu ér sūn fú.

Younger generations will do alright on their own. "Descendants will make their own fortune."

This expression means that children can take care of themselves when they grow up, and parents don't have to work too hard for their future.

儿孙 ér sūn: descendant

自有 zì yǒu: to have / to own

儿孙 ér sūn: descendant

福 fú: fortune

家家有本难念的经。jiā jiā yǒu běn nán niàn de jīnɡ.

Every family has its problems. (There are skeletons in every family's closet.)

家家 jiā jiā: every family

有 yǒu: has

本 běn: measure word

难 nán: difficult

念 niàn: to read

的 de: particle

经 jīnɡ: sacred book

月到中秋分外明，每逢佳节倍思亲。yuè dào zhōng qiū fēn wài míng,měi féng jiā jié bèi sī qīn.

The moon shines brighter during Mid-autumn festival—everyone misses their loved ones more at this time.

This expression is used to describe a situation where you are not able to be with your family during the Mid-autumn Festival and miss them even more than you normally do.

*The Mid-autumn Festival is a traditional festival in China. On this day, people, especially family members, should have a happy get-together.

月 yuè: moon

到 dào: until

中秋 zhōng qiū: Mid-autumn festival

分外 fēn wài: exceptionally

明 míng: bright

每 měi: every

逢 féng: to fall on

佳节 jiā jié: festive day

倍 bèi: multiply

思亲 sī qīn: to feel homesick

#10

清官难断家务事。qīnɡ ɡuān nán duàn jiā wù shì.

Even an honest and upright official will have difficulty resolving a family dispute.

This expression means: An outsider can never really understand another person's family problems.

清官 qīnɡ ɡuān: honest and upright official

难 nán: difficult

断 duàn: to resolve

家务事 jiā wù shì: family dispute

#11

家丑不可外扬。jiā chǒu bù kě wài yánɡ.

Don't wash your dirty linen in public. "family shames must not be spread outside"

家丑 jiā chǒu: family shames

不可 bù kě: must not

外扬 wài yánɡ: spread outside

#12

但愿人长久，

千里共婵娟。dàn yuàn rén cháng jiǔ, qiān lǐ gòng chán juān.

Wishing us long life, though we are sharing moonlight from afar. "I wish person long-time, 1000 li (500 km) share moon"

This expression is often used to express the longing and best wishes for loved ones that are far away. Though you are miles apart you are both alive and share the experience of watching the same moon.

但愿 dàn yuàn: I wish

人 rén: people

长久 cháng jiǔ: long time

千里 qiān lǐ: 500 km

共 gòng: to share

婵娟 chán juān: moon

#13