To enjoy the benefits of the hard work of one’s predecessors. to plan ahead)。ġ5 Each generation will reap what the former generation has sown. 未(not yet)雨(rain)绸缪(bind around with silk (idiom, from Book of Songs 詩經|诗经) fig. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. 天(haven)生(give birth to)我(my)材(ability)必(must)有(have)用(usage)。ġ3 Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
酒(wine)逢(meet)知己(person who knows myself)千(thousand)杯(sup)少(few),话(word)不(not)投机(congenial/agreeable)半(half)句(sentence)多(many)。ġ2 If heaven made him, earth can find some use for him. Jiǔ féng zhījǐ qiān bēi shǎo ,huà bù tóu jī bàn jù duō 。 饮(drink)水(water)思(think of)源(source of water)。ġ1 A thousand cups of wine do not suffice when true friends meet, but half a sentence is too much when there is no meeting of minds. 疑惑(doubt)深(deep),智慧(wisdom)深(deep);疑惑(doubt)浅(shallow),智慧(wisdom)浅(shallow)。ġ0 When you drink the water, remember the spring. Yíhuò shēn ,zhìhuì shēn ;yíhuò jiān ,zhìhuì jiān 。 不(not)怕(afraid)慢(slowness),就(just)怕(fear/afraid)停(stop)。ĩ Deep doubts, deep wisdom small doubts, little wisdom. 玉(jade)不(not)琢(cut/refine)、不(not)成(become)器(device / tool / utensil )。Ĩ Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still. 宁(rather to)做(be)有(have)瑕(flaw)玉(jade),不(not)做(to be)无(none)暇(flaw)石(stone)。ħ A gem will be polished without carving and polishing, nor a man perfected without trials. 狗(dog)嘴(mouth)里(within)吐不出(not able to utter out/ spit out)象牙(ivory / elephant tusk )。Ħ A diamond with a flaw is worth more than a pebble without imperfections. 赠(give)人(person/people)玫瑰(roses),手(hand)有(have)余(lingering)香(fragrance)。ĥ A filthy mouth will not utter decent language.
书(book)是(is)随身(to (carry) on one’s person)携带(carry/bring)的(connecting particle)花园(garden)。Ĥ A bit of fragrance clings to the hand that gives flowers. 书(book)中(within)自(itself)有(have)黄金(gold)屋(house)ģ A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. Niǎor chànggē bú shì yīnwèi tāmen yǒule dáàn ,érshì yīnwèi tāmen yǒu gē yào chàng 。 1 A bird does not sing because it has an answer.