I like this Chinese proverb…
A peasant must stand for a long time on hillside with his mouth open before a roast duck flies in.
What do you think it means?
Do you have any favourite expressions/proverbs?
Mrs Sweeney
Image : http://china.kylereed.com/YunnanPeople/index.html 17/5/08
June 2nd, 2008
in
celebrating words Tagged expressions, proverbs |
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:50 pm
I interpret it as meaning that a man(or woman) must work for their living, and that the world will not simply provide for him. This represents the fundamental law of nature, that nothing comes totally freely.
My personal favourite:
In a race between a rock and a pig, don’t varnish your clams.
Try to interpret that one!
June 12th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Maybe the pig is dead? Or.. it’s a race down a hill? Try to interperet these ones.
“A book holds a house of gold.”
Even a hare will bite when it is cornered.(My Favourite)
A fall into a ditch makes you wiser.
An inch of time is an inch of gold but you can’t buy that inch of time with an inch of gold.
Vicious as a tigeress can be, she never eats her own cubs.
Crows everywhere are equally black.
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:11 pm
I interpret the chinese one as… DON’T WAIT FOR SOMETHING THAT HAS A LOW CHANCE OF HAPPENING WHEN YOU CAN DO SOMETHING USEFUL…
It is similar to ” a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”.
Everyone probably knows this one but:
“If life gives you lemons, make lemonade”