Mandarin Melon
30 Chinese Common Sayings
Table of Contents (click & go):
1. 天下没有免费的午餐
Pinyin: tiān xià méi yǒu miǎn fèi de wǔ cān
Literal translation: Under the sky, there is no free lunch.
Meaning: There is no such thing as a free meal; everything comes at a cost.
Breakdown:
天下 (tiān xià) – under the sky, the whole world
没有 (méi yǒu) – does not have
免费的 (miǎn fèi de) – free of charge
午餐 (wǔ cān) – lunch
Audio: (fast & slow)
2. 眼不见为净
Pinyin: yǎn bù jiàn wéi jìng
Literal translation: If the eyes don’t see, it counts as clean.
Meaning: Out of sight, out of mind.
Breakdown:
眼 (yǎn) – eye
不见 (bù jiàn) – do not see
为 (wéi) – considered as
净 (jìng) – clean
Literal translation: If the eyes don’t see, it counts as clean.
Meaning: Out of sight, out of mind.
Breakdown:
眼 (yǎn) – eye
不见 (bù jiàn) – do not see
为 (wéi) – considered as
净 (jìng) – clean
3. 过河拆桥
Pinyin: guò hé chāi qiáo
Literal translation: Cross the river, dismantle the bridge.
Meaning: To abandon or betray others after receiving help/kindness.
Breakdown:
过 (guò) – cross
河 (hé) – river
拆 (chāi) – dismantle
桥 (qiáo) – bridge
Literal translation: Cross the river, dismantle the bridge.
Meaning: To abandon or betray others after receiving help/kindness.
Breakdown:
过 (guò) – cross
河 (hé) – river
拆 (chāi) – dismantle
桥 (qiáo) – bridge
4. 路遥知马力，日久见人心
Pinyin: lù yáo zhī mǎ lì, rì jiǔ jiàn rén xīn
Literal translation: A long road tests a horse’s strength, time reveals a person’s heart.
Meaning: True qualities are revealed over time and through challenges.
Breakdown:
路 (lù) – road
遥 (yáo) – long, distant
知 (zhī) – know
马力 (mǎ lì) – horse’s strength
日 (rì) – day
久 (jiǔ) – long (time)
见 (jiàn) – see
人心 (rén xīn) – person’s heart
Literal translation: A long road tests a horse’s strength, time reveals a person’s heart.
Meaning: True qualities are revealed over time and through challenges.
Breakdown:
路 (lù) – road
遥 (yáo) – long, distant
知 (zhī) – know
马力 (mǎ lì) – horse’s strength
日 (rì) – day
久 (jiǔ) – long (time)
见 (jiàn) – see
人心 (rén xīn) – person’s heart
5. 说曹操，曹操到
Pinyin: shuō Cáo Cāo, Cáo Cāo dào
Literal translation: Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives.
Meaning: Speaking of the devil.
Breakdown:
说 (shuō) – speak
曹操 (Cáo Cāo) – Cao Cao (a historical figure, courtesy name Mengde, was a Chinese statesman, warlord, and poet who rose to power towards the end of the Eastern Han dynasty)
到 (dào) – arrives
Literal translation: Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives.
Meaning: Speaking of the devil.
Breakdown:
说 (shuō) – speak
曹操 (Cáo Cāo) – Cao Cao (a historical figure, courtesy name Mengde, was a Chinese statesman, warlord, and poet who rose to power towards the end of the Eastern Han dynasty)
到 (dào) – arrives
6. 好了伤疤忘了疼
Pinyin: hǎo le shāng bā wàng le téng
Literal translation: Once the scar heals, the pain is forgotten.
Meaning: People often forget about the pain once a problem is resolved.
Breakdown:
好了 (hǎo le) – healed
伤疤 (shāng bā) – scar
忘了 (wàng le) – forgotten
疼 (téng) – pain
Literal translation: Once the scar heals, the pain is forgotten.
Meaning: People often forget about the pain once a problem is resolved.
Breakdown:
好了 (hǎo le) – healed
伤疤 (shāng bā) – scar
忘了 (wàng le) – forgotten
疼 (téng) – pain
7. 没事找事
Pinyin: méi shì zhǎo shì
Literal translation: Nothing wrong, yet looking for trouble.
Meaning: To look for trouble when none exists.
Breakdown:
没 (méi) – not
事 (shì) – affair, matter
找 (zhǎo) – look for
Literal translation: Nothing wrong, yet looking for trouble.
Meaning: To look for trouble when none exists.
Breakdown:
没 (méi) – not
事 (shì) – affair, matter
找 (zhǎo) – look for
8. 金无足赤，人无完人
Pinyin: jīn wú zú chì, rén wú wán rén
Literal translation: No gold is pure, and no one is perfect.
Meaning: Nothing is perfect, everyone has flaws.
Breakdown:
金 (jīn) – gold
无 (wú) – does not have, without
足赤 (zú chì) – lit. completely red (here referring to 足金，纯金, which means pure gold)
人 (rén) – person
完人 (wán rén) – perfect person
Literal translation: No gold is pure, and no one is perfect.
Meaning: Nothing is perfect, everyone has flaws.
Breakdown:
金 (jīn) – gold
无 (wú) – does not have, without
足赤 (zú chì) – lit. completely red (here referring to 足金，纯金, which means pure gold)
人 (rén) – person
完人 (wán rén) – perfect person
9. 酒逢知己千杯少
Pinyin: jiǔ féng zhī jǐ qiān bēi shǎo
Literal translation: When drinking with a true friend, a thousand cups are too few.
Meaning: Time spent with close friends is always enjoyable and seems too short.
Breakdown:
酒 (jiǔ) – alcohol, wine
逢 (féng) – meet
知己 (zhī jǐ) – confidant, close friend
千 (qiān) – thousand
杯 (bēi) – cup
少 (shǎo) – few, not enough
Literal translation: When drinking with a true friend, a thousand cups are too few.
Meaning: Time spent with close friends is always enjoyable and seems too short.
Breakdown:
酒 (jiǔ) – alcohol, wine
逢 (féng) – meet
知己 (zhī jǐ) – confidant, close friend
千 (qiān) – thousand
杯 (bēi) – cup
少 (shǎo) – few, not enough
10. 人不可貌相，海水不可斗量
Pinyin: rén bù kě mào xiàng, hǎi shuǐ bù kě dǒu liàng
Literal translation: A person cannot be judged by appearance, nor can the sea be measured with a bucket.
Meaning: Do not judge by appearances; the true nature or quantity of things cannot always be easily assessed.
Breakdown:
人 (rén) – person
不可 (bù kě) – cannot
貌 (mào) – appearance
相 (xiàng) – estimate, evaluate
海水 (hǎi shuǐ) – sea water
斗 (dǒu) – The original meaning of dou is a vessel for holding wine, and it is also used as a tool for measuring grain. Later it was extended to a unit.
量 (liáng) – measure
Literal translation: A person cannot be judged by appearance, nor can the sea be measured with a bucket.
Meaning: Do not judge by appearances; the true nature or quantity of things cannot always be easily assessed.
Breakdown:
人 (rén) – person
不可 (bù kě) – cannot
貌 (mào) – appearance
相 (xiàng) – estimate, evaluate
海水 (hǎi shuǐ) – sea water
斗 (dǒu) – The original meaning of dou is a vessel for holding wine, and it is also used as a tool for measuring grain. Later it was extended to a unit.
量 (liáng) – measure
11. 留得青山在，不怕没柴烧
Pinyin: liú dé qīng shān zài, bù pà méi chái shāo
Literal translation: As long as the green mountains remain, there is no fear of running out of firewood.
Meaning: If the foundation or resources are preserved, there will always be opportunities in the future.
Breakdown:
留得 (liú dé) – keep, retain
青山 (qīng shān) – green mountains
在 (zài) – exist, are present
不怕 (bù pà) – not afraid
没 (méi) – not have
柴 (chái) – firewood
烧 (shāo) – to burn
Literal translation: As long as the green mountains remain, there is no fear of running out of firewood.
Meaning: If the foundation or resources are preserved, there will always be opportunities in the future.
Breakdown:
留得 (liú dé) – keep, retain
青山 (qīng shān) – green mountains
在 (zài) – exist, are present
不怕 (bù pà) – not afraid
没 (méi) – not have
柴 (chái) – firewood
烧 (shāo) – to burn
12. 耳听为虚，眼见为实
Pinyin: ěr tīng wéi xū, yǎn jiàn wéi shí
Literal translation: What the ears hear is false, what the eyes see is true.
Meaning: Trust what you see more than what you hear.
Breakdown:
耳 (ěr) – ear
听 (tīng) – listen
为 (wéi) – is
虚 (xū) – false
眼 (yǎn) – eye
见 (jiàn) – see
实 (shí) – true
Literal translation: What the ears hear is false, what the eyes see is true.
Meaning: Trust what you see more than what you hear.
Breakdown:
耳 (ěr) – ear
听 (tīng) – listen
为 (wéi) – is
虚 (xū) – false
眼 (yǎn) – eye
见 (jiàn) – see
实 (shí) – true
13. 吃一堑，长一智
Pinyin: chī yī qiàn, zhǎng yī zhì
Literal translation: Fall into one pit, gain one wisdom.
Meaning: Learn from your mistakes.
Breakdown:
吃 (chī) – to eat, here it means encounter/suffer
一 (yī) – one
堑 (qiàn) – pit, hole
长 (zhǎng) – gain, grow
智 (zhì) – wisdom
Literal translation: Fall into one pit, gain one wisdom.
Meaning: Learn from your mistakes.
Breakdown:
吃 (chī) – to eat, here it means encounter/suffer
一 (yī) – one
堑 (qiàn) – pit, hole
长 (zhǎng) – gain, grow
智 (zhì) – wisdom
14. 一分耕耘，一分收获
Pinyin: yī fēn gēng yún, yī fēn shōu huò
Literal translation: One cultivation, one harvest.
Meaning: No pain, no gain.
Breakdown:
一分 (yī fēn) – one
耕耘 (gēng yún) – cultivation
收获 (shōu huò) – harvest
Literal translation: One cultivation, one harvest.
Meaning: No pain, no gain.
Breakdown:
一分 (yī fēn) – one
耕耘 (gēng yún) – cultivation
收获 (shōu huò) – harvest
15. 好事多磨
Pinyin: hǎo shì duō mó
Literal translation: Good things require much hardship.
Meaning: Achieving good results often requires overcoming many difficulties.
Breakdown:
好事 (hǎo shì) – good things
多 (duō) – many, much
磨 (mó) – friction, hardship
Literal translation: Good things require much hardship.
Meaning: Achieving good results often requires overcoming many difficulties.
Breakdown:
好事 (hǎo shì) – good things
多 (duō) – many, much
磨 (mó) – friction, hardship
16. 三思而后行
Pinyin: sān sī ér hòu xíng
Literal translation: Think three times before acting.
Meaning: Always think carefully before taking action.
Breakdown:
三 (sān) – three
思 (sī) – think
而后 (ér hòu) – and then
行 (xíng) – act, move
Literal translation: Think three times before acting.
Meaning: Always think carefully before taking action.
Breakdown:
三 (sān) – three
思 (sī) – think
而后 (ér hòu) – and then
行 (xíng) – act, move
17. 活到老，学到老
Pinyin: huó dào lǎo, xué dào lǎo
Literal translation: Live to old age, learn till old age.
Meaning: Never stop learning, regardless of your age.
Breakdown:
活 (huó) – live
到 (dào) – until
老 (lǎo) – old
学 (xué) – learn
Literal translation: Live to old age, learn till old age.
Meaning: Never stop learning, regardless of your age.
Breakdown:
活 (huó) – live
到 (dào) – until
老 (lǎo) – old
学 (xué) – learn
18. 好事不出门，坏事传千里
Pinyin: hǎo shì bù chū mén, huài shì chuán qiān lǐ
Literal translation: Good deeds don’t go beyond the gate, bad news spreads a thousand miles.
Meaning: Bad news travels faster and farther than good news.
Breakdown:
好事 (hǎo shì) – good deeds
不出门 (bù chū mén) – do not go out the door
坏事 (huài shì) – bad things
传 (chuán) – spread
千里 (qiān lǐ) – thousand miles
Literal translation: Good deeds don’t go beyond the gate, bad news spreads a thousand miles.
Meaning: Bad news travels faster and farther than good news.
Breakdown:
好事 (hǎo shì) – good deeds
不出门 (bù chū mén) – do not go out the door
坏事 (huài shì) – bad things
传 (chuán) – spread
千里 (qiān lǐ) – thousand miles
19. 不管三七二十一
Pinyin: bù guǎn sān qī èr shí yī
Literal translation: Regardless of three sevens or twenty-one.
Meaning: To act regardless of the consequences, to do something haphazardly.
Breakdown:
不管 (bù guǎn) – regardless of
三七 (sān qī) – three sevens
二十一 (èr shí yī) – twenty-one
Literal translation: Regardless of three sevens or twenty-one.
Meaning: To act regardless of the consequences, to do something haphazardly.
Breakdown:
不管 (bù guǎn) – regardless of
三七 (sān qī) – three sevens
二十一 (èr shí yī) – twenty-one
20. 八竿子打不着
Pinyin: bā gān zi dǎ bù zháo
Literal translation: Eight poles cannot make a hit.
Meaning: Two things or people are unrelated and cannot be connected.
Breakdown:
八 (bā) – eight
竿子 (gān zi) – poles
打 (dǎ) – hit
不着 (bù zháo) – cannot reach
Literal translation: Eight poles cannot make a hit.
Meaning: Two things or people are unrelated and cannot be connected.
Breakdown:
八 (bā) – eight
竿子 (gān zi) – poles
打 (dǎ) – hit
不着 (bù zháo) – cannot reach
21. 烂摊子
Pinyin: làn tān zi
Literal translation: A messy stall.
Meaning: A mess or a chaotic situation.
Breakdown:
烂 (làn) – rotten, messy
摊子 (tān zi) – stall, stand
Literal translation: A messy stall.
Meaning: A mess or a chaotic situation.
Breakdown:
烂 (làn) – rotten, messy
摊子 (tān zi) – stall, stand
22. 林子大了，什么鸟都有
Pinyin: lín zi dà le, shén me niǎo dōu yǒu
Literal translation: When the forest is big, there are all kinds of birds.
Meaning: In a large group or organization, all types of people can be found.
Breakdown:
林子 (lín zi) – forest
大了 (dà le) – is big
什么 (shén me) – what
鸟 (niǎo) – bird
都 (dōu) – all
有 (yǒu) – have
Literal translation: When the forest is big, there are all kinds of birds.
Meaning: In a large group or organization, all types of people can be found.
Breakdown:
林子 (lín zi) – forest
大了 (dà le) – is big
什么 (shén me) – what
鸟 (niǎo) – bird
都 (dōu) – all
有 (yǒu) – have
23. 吃不了兜着走
Pinyin: chī bù liǎo dōu zhe zǒu
Literal translation: Can’t eat it, carry it with you.
Meaning: A metaphor for causing trouble or causing bad consequences that must be endured. If you can’t handle a problem now, you’ll have to deal with it later.
Breakdown:
吃不了 (chī bù liǎo) – can’t eat (anymore)
兜着 (dōu zhe) – carry around
走 (zǒu) – walk
Literal translation: Can’t eat it, carry it with you.
Meaning: A metaphor for causing trouble or causing bad consequences that must be endured. If you can’t handle a problem now, you’ll have to deal with it later.
Breakdown:
吃不了 (chī bù liǎo) – can’t eat (anymore)
兜着 (dōu zhe) – carry around
走 (zǒu) – walk
24. 打肿脸充胖子
Pinyin: dǎ zhǒng liǎn chōng pàng zi
Literal translation: Slapping one’s face to make it swollen to look fat.
Meaning: To seek to impress by feigning more than one’s abilities.
Breakdown:
打 (dǎ) – to hit
肿 (zhǒng) – swollen
脸 (liǎn) – face
充 (chōng) – to pretend
胖子 (pàng zi) – fat person
Literal translation: Slapping one’s face to make it swollen to look fat.
Meaning: To seek to impress by feigning more than one’s abilities.
Breakdown:
打 (dǎ) – to hit
肿 (zhǒng) – swollen
脸 (liǎn) – face
充 (chōng) – to pretend
胖子 (pàng zi) – fat person
25. 吃错药
Pinyin: chī cuò yào
Literal translation: Took the wrong medicine.
Meaning: To behave abnormally or irrationally.
Breakdown:
吃 (chī) – take, eat
错 (cuò) – wrong
药 (yào) – medicine
Literal translation: Took the wrong medicine.
Meaning: To behave abnormally or irrationally.
Breakdown:
吃 (chī) – take, eat
错 (cuò) – wrong
药 (yào) – medicine
26. 此处不留爷，自有留爷处
Pinyin: cǐ chù bù liú yé, zì yǒu liú yé chù
Literal translation: If this place doesn’t keep me, there are other places that will.
Meaning: If one place or opportunity doesn’t work out, there will be others.
Breakdown:
此处 (cǐ chù) – this place
不留 (bù liú) – does not keep
爷 (yé) – master, sir, grandpa (here used to mean ‘me’)
自有 (zì yǒu) – of course there will be
留爷处 (liú yé chù) – a place that will keep me
Literal translation: If this place doesn’t keep me, there are other places that will.
Meaning: If one place or opportunity doesn’t work out, there will be others.
Breakdown:
此处 (cǐ chù) – this place
不留 (bù liú) – does not keep
爷 (yé) – master, sir, grandpa (here used to mean ‘me’)
自有 (zì yǒu) – of course there will be
留爷处 (liú yé chù) – a place that will keep me
27. 打小报告
Pinyin: dǎ xiǎo bào gào
Literal translation: To make a petty report.
Meaning: Secretly report the bad things about others to superiors or elders.
Breakdown:
打 (dǎ) – make, hit
小 (xiǎo) – small, petty
报告 (bào gào) – report
Literal translation: To make a petty report.
Meaning: Secretly report the bad things about others to superiors or elders.
Breakdown:
打 (dǎ) – make, hit
小 (xiǎo) – small, petty
报告 (bào gào) – report
28. 恨铁不成钢
Pinyin: hèn tiě bù chéng gāng
Literal translation: To hate iron for not becoming steel.
Meaning: To be frustrated with someone for not meeting their potential.
Breakdown:
恨 (hèn) – to hate, resent
铁 (tiě) – iron
不成 (bù chéng) – not become
钢 (gāng) – steel
Literal translation: To hate iron for not becoming steel.
Meaning: To be frustrated with someone for not meeting their potential.
Breakdown:
恨 (hèn) – to hate, resent
铁 (tiě) – iron
不成 (bù chéng) – not become
钢 (gāng) – steel
29. 东方不亮西方亮
Pinyin: dōng fāng bù liàng xī fāng liàng
Literal translation: If the east is not bright, the west is bright.
Meaning: If one opportunity doesn’t work out, another will appear.
Breakdown:
东方 (dōng fāng) – the east
不亮 (bù liàng) – not bright
西方 (xī fāng) – the west
亮 (liàng) – bright
Literal translation: If the east is not bright, the west is bright.
Meaning: If one opportunity doesn’t work out, another will appear.
Breakdown:
东方 (dōng fāng) – the east
不亮 (bù liàng) – not bright
西方 (xī fāng) – the west
亮 (liàng) – bright
30. 打预防针
Pinyin: dǎ yù fáng zhēn
Literal translation: To give a preventive injection.
Meaning: To take precautions against potential problems or to warn someone in advance.
Breakdown:
打 (dǎ) – to give (in the context of injections)
预防 (yù fáng) – preventive
针 (zhēn) – needle, injection
Literal translation: To give a preventive injection.
Meaning: To take precautions against potential problems or to warn someone in advance.
Breakdown:
打 (dǎ) – to give (in the context of injections)
预防 (yù fáng) – preventive
针 (zhēn) – needle, injection
