What We Check
- Expression type: We distinguish 成语 (chéngyǔ), 谚语 (yànyǔ), 俗语 (súyǔ), 歇后语 (xiēhòuyǔ), classical quotations, and modern sayings instead of treating every expression as the same kind of “proverb.”
- Chinese and pinyin: Entries record the commonly used Chinese form and Hanyu Pinyin with tone marks.
- Two levels of translation: Where useful, the literal wording is separated from the natural English meaning. A literal gloss is not presented as fluent English, and a fluent rendering is not presented as word-for-word translation.
- Origin: When a saying is traceable, the entry names the work, chapter, attributed author, and historical era. Folk expressions without a defensible first source are labeled as oral or uncertain rather than assigned a famous author.
- Modern use: Usage notes explain the situations in which the expression is natural, formal, literary, humorous, dated, or potentially inappropriate.
Source Labels
Source notes use plain-language confidence labels:
- Verified: a named textual source or well-attested historical record has been identified.
- Traditional attribution: the association is widespread, but the exact earliest wording or authorship may be disputed.
- Folk or oral tradition: no single author or first written appearance can be established responsibly.
- Modern saying: the phrase is in contemporary circulation but is not represented as an ancient quotation.
Reference Approach
Classical attributions are checked against identifiable works and chapters when possible. Useful reference points include the Chinese Text Project for transmitted classical texts and John S. Rohsenow's ABC Dictionary of Chinese Proverbs (Yanyu) for proverb classification, translation, usage, and cross-reference methodology. A link is provided on an entry when a reliable public source page is available.
The site does not treat an unsourced social-media graphic, a repeated “Confucius said” claim, or an English phrase labeled “ancient Chinese proverb” as evidence of Chinese origin.
Answer-First, Evidence Second
Entry pages begin with a short answer containing the Chinese characters, pinyin, English meaning, and literal translation where available. The historical record, interpretation, usage scenarios, and source notes follow. This structure helps readers get a direct answer without hiding uncertainty or context.
Corrections and Updates
Language and attribution research can change. Material corrections update the page's modification date and, where appropriate, its source or confidence note. To report a pinyin, translation, attribution, broken-link, or cultural-context issue, email wangyj9023@gmail.com and include the page URL and supporting source.
Scope and Limitations
Chinese proverb boundaries are not absolute: the same expression may be classified differently across dictionaries, regions, and historical periods. English translations also involve editorial judgment. We therefore expose the original Chinese and pinyin alongside the translation and mark uncertain origins instead of implying a false level of precision.