Vietnamese Proverbs, Old Sayings and Customary Wisdom

Inspiring Quotes and Proverbial Wisdom from China about Wealth, Pride and Dignity, Time and Beauty

The husband eats turtle soup; the wife eats spring roll. -- Vietnamese Proverb


Catch the bear before you sell his skin. -- Vietnamese Proverb


Because the caterpillar exists, there exists also a bird to eat it. -- Vietnamese Proverb


A fair face may hide a foul heart. -- Vietnamese Proverb


A day of traveling will bring a basketful of learning. -- Vietnamese Proverb


Hunger brings the wolf to the fold. -- Vietnamese Proverb


All chili is hot; all women are jealous. -- Vietnamese Proverb


Better a lean peace than a fat victory. -- Vietnamese Proverb


Many a good father has but a bad son. -- Vietnamese Proverb


Stolen foods are the best. -- Vietnamese Proverb


If a father eats a lot of salt, his children will be thirsty. -- Vietnamese Proverb


Eat as small as a cat. -- Vietnamese Proverb


Once the fish is caught, the net is let aside. -- Vietnamese Proverb


When eating fruit, remember who planted the tree; when drinking clear water, remember who dug the well. -- Vietnamese Proverb


The rich eat. The poor smoke. -- Vietnamese Proverb




When a man says yes, his chi says yes also. -- Chinese Proverb

Rotten wood cannot be carved. -- Chinese Proverb

If you don't stand for something, you will fall for something. -- Chinese Proverb

Even for a tree of 10000 feet, it's leaves return to the root when they fall. -- Chinese Proverb

Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped. -- Chinese Proverb

An iron rod can be ground down to become a needle. -- Chinese Proverb

The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials. -- Chinese Proverb

The palest ink is better than the best memory. -- Chinese Proverb

Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. -- Chinese Proverb

He who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount. -- Chinese Proverb

The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water, but to walk on the earth. -- Chinese Proverb

Words are sounds of the heart. -- Chinese Proverb

To know the road ahead, ask those coming back. -- Chinese Proverb

Fall seven times, stand up eight. -- Chinese Proverb

There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it.-- Chinese Proverb

Sour, sweet, bitter, pungent, all must be tasted. -- Chinese Proverb

When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other-- Chinese Proverb

Sometimes you lose a forest through the trees. -- Chinese Proverb

It is the beautiful bird that gets caged. -- Chinese Proverb

To forget one's ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without a root. -- Chinese Proverb

The sun will shine on those who stand before it shines on those who kneel under them. -- Chinese Proverb

The faintest ink is more powerful than the strongest memory. -- Chinese Proverb

If heaven made him, earth can find some use for him. -- Chinese Proverb

When a finger points at the moon, the imbecile looks at the finger. -- Chinese Proverb

A watched flower never blooms, while a carelessly planted willow grows into shade. -- Chinese Proverb

With time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown. -- Chinese Proverb

Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself. -- Chinese Proverb

Keep your broken arm inside your sleeve. -- Chinese Proverb

Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputations, can never effect a reform. -- Chinese Proverb

If you must play, decide on three things at the start: the rules of he game, the stakes, and the quitting time. -- Chinese Proverb

Those whose palm-kernels were cracked for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble. -- Chinese Proverb



Even a hare will bite when it is cornered. -Chinese Proverb 

If there is light in the soul, There will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, There will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, There will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, There will be peace in the world.-- Chinese Proverb 

When the moon is shining the cripple becomes hungry for a walk. -- Chinese Proverb 

Those who know when they have enough are rich. -- Chinese Proverb 

A chick that will grow into a cock can be spotted the very day it hatches. -- Chinese Proverb 

One step in the wrong direction will cause you a thousand years of regret. -- Chinese Proverb 

A diamond with a flaw is preferable to a common stone with none. -- Chinese Proverb

If you feel you have worthwhile information you would like to contribute we would love to hear from you. We collect proverbs and old sayings from folks all over the globe and appreciate your participation. When submitting please, if possible, site the source and provide English translation. Email to historyofpainter@gmail.com