Chinese Proverbs About Money & Wealth
Money has been a subject of practical and moral concern in Chinese culture for as long as commerce has existed. Merchants passed down hard-won lessons about risk and reward, while philosophers weighed the place of material gain in a life well lived.
There’s a recognizable tension in these proverbs. On one side, the practical need to provide for oneself and one’s family. On the other, the well-documented dangers of excessive attachment to wealth. Many sayings try to hold both truths at once: money matters, but it matters less than character, relationships, or peace of mind.
Whether you’re building something, recovering from loss, or just trying to keep your priorities straight, these proverbs speak to the enduring challenge of making a living without losing what makes life worth living.
竭泽而渔
Jié zé ér yú
"Draining the pond to catch all the fish"
杀鸡取卵
Shā jī qǔ luǎn
"Kill the hen to take the eggs"
吃不穷，穿不穷，算计不到一世穷
Chī bù qióng, chuān bù qióng, suànji bù dào yī shì qióng
"Eating won't bankrupt you, clothing won't bankrupt you, but failing to plan will leave you poor for a lifetime"
人为财死，鸟为食亡
Rén wèi cái sǐ, niǎo wèi shí wáng
"Humans die for wealth, birds perish for food."
有钱能使鬼推磨
Yǒu qián néng shǐ guǐ tuī mò
"With money, you can make the devil turn the millstone"
钱不是万能的，没钱是万万不能的
Qián bù shì wàn néng de, méi qián shì wàn wàn bù néng de
"Money is not omnipotent, but having no money is absolutely impossible."
贫贱夫妻百事哀
Pín jiàn fū qī bǎi shì āi
"A poor and lowly couple finds sorrow in everything."
羊毛出在羊身上
Yáng máo chū zài yáng shēn shàng
"The wool comes from the sheep's own body"
一文钱难倒英雄汉
Yī wén qián nán dǎo yīng xióng hàn
"One copper coin can bring down a hero"
贫贱不能移
Pín jiàn bù néng yí
"Poverty and lowliness cannot make one waver"
试金之石可试金，金可试人
Shì jīn zhī shí kě shì jīn, jīn kě shì rén
"A touchstone can test gold, and gold can test a person"
金钱不是万能的
Jīn qián bù shì wàn néng de
"Money is not omnipotent"
一寸光阴一寸金
Yī cùn guāng yīn yī cùn jīn
"An inch of time is worth an inch of gold"