21. 常在河边走，难免不湿鞋 If you often walks by the riverside, you can’t avoid getting your shoes wet. / People will
give in to constant temptation.
22. 车到山前必有路 When the cart gets to the mountains, there will have to be a way through. / Things always work
out in the end.
23. 城门失火，殃及池鱼 When the city gate catches fire, even the fish in the moat are affected. / Innocent
bystanders can be implicated in a bad situation.
24. 撑死胆大的，饿死胆小的 Bold people die of over-eating, whereas timid ones die of starvation. / The bold get
rich, while the timid stay poor.
25. 成者为王，败者为寇 People who succeed are considered kings, people defeated are considered bandits. /
Legitimacy goes to the winner; losers are always in the wrong.
26. 吃得苦中苦，方知甜中甜 Only those who can eat the bitterest of the bitter will appreciate the sweetest of the
sweet. / Only those who have suffered can truly appreciate the good life.
27. 吃亏就是占便宜 Being taken advantage of is actually taking advantage of others/ This reflects the core Chinese
wisdom that smart people are destroyed by the powerful and jealous: play dumb, it will save you bigger
troubles down the road.
28. 丑妇总要见公婆 An ugly bride will sooner or later meet her parents-in-law. / Truth will finally come to light
sooner or later.
29. 初生牛犊不怕虎Anew-borncalf doesn’t evenfear the tiger. / The innocent ornaïve don’t knowenoughto be afraid.
30. 出头的椽子先烂 Rafters thatjut outfrom under the rooftend to rotfirst. / People in the spotlighttend to attract
jealousy or be attacked.
31. 聪明反被聪明误 Cleverness may be taken in by itself. / You can be too smart for your own good.
32. 打狗看主人 Before hitting a dog, you’d better think about its owner. / Before you attack somebody, you’d better
first find out who else you may offend.
33. 大难不死，必有后福 One who survives a great disaster must be destined for good fortune ever after.
34. 旁观者清，当局者迷 Those involved in affairs are often muddled, whereas the onlookers can see clearly. / Sometimes it takes an outsider to see things more clearly.
35. 道高一尺，魔高一丈 Ifthe Buddha rises one foot,the demon rises 10. / Unjustforces always outnumber just ones.
36. 打人莫打脸，骂人休揭短 Don’t slap someone’s face in a fight, and don’t disclose someone’s defects in a quarrel.
/ When arguing with somebody, be a gentleman and don’t make the other person lose face.
37. 大丈夫能屈能伸 A great man can bend as well as extend. / A great man can deal with humiliation as well as glory.
38. 得道多助，失道寡助 A just cause will obtain great support; an unjust cause will gain little support.
39. 得人滴水之恩，须当涌泉相报 If one receives a water drop of kindness, one should repay with a flowing spring.
/ People should repay several fold kindness that he/she received in times of difficulty.
40. 得人心者得天下，失人心者失天下 Those who gained people’s hearts gain the world; those who lose people’s
hearts lose the world.
