You may recognise the first half of this proverb, as an English saying. I really like the addition that the Chinese have made to this common proverb. It really makes the meaning much more clear. There is much more to a person than you can possibly measure by their appearance.

The people over at NiHao Hello posted this Chinese proverb yesterday and I thought I would re-post it as I really liked it. It is somewhat similiar to one I posted recently, 'The mightiest Oaks....'

I like this proverb to remind me that all of our plans, especially the biggest take a long time. They don't happen straight away. I must keep on reminding myself this, becuase it is often easy to be upset you haven't achieved goals that you have set yourself now. The journey to achieving your aspirations, dreams and goals is in taking the first steps with no fear.

Take a moment and think about what you want to achieve. Then take the plunge, take that first step the journey to your dreams.

This proverb is great for the new school year. In English, this proverb would more commonly be: To turn over a new leaf. To start afresh, to wipe the slate clean.

In other words this proverb is all about clearing your reputation and starting again. With only your actions from now counting towards your new book, (leaf originally meaning page of a book as opposed to a plant).

For me today, this is about trying to really hit my personaly goals and targets. Organise my time a little better and probably try and be a better boyfriend to my other half, who often gets less attention given to her because of this blog.

Sorry Jen. I will try to change the way I have been acting, and be a bit more organised.

The original meaning and use of this Chinese Proverb was probably more like 'a good time to go to war'.

First found by the wonderful guys over at NEOCha. Beijing based Ray Lei (雷磊) animted this lovely and peculiar short. In a wonderful world, where everyone has rubiks cubes as heads, this animated short is fun.



Whilst you won't learn any Chinese through this video, it is a bit of fun, and has a great soundtrack written by by Li Xingyu (李星宇), a mix of 8 bit computer sounds and any of you familiar with Pink Floyd are in for a treat too.

I present to you Magic Cube & Ping Pong:

Magic cube and Ping-Pong from RAY on Vimeo.

Border Project from RAY on Vimeo.

This saying is one that I think is used as we might use "take only what you need." If you have a better description of how it may be used, please feel free to add it to the comments below.

各取所需
gè​qǔ​suǒ​xū​
Each takes what he needs

In English there are set ways that you can say things in pairs, that usually wouldn't necassarily come in twos. For example: two Jeans is wrong, yet a pair of Jeans is correct. Two glasses is wrong, but a pair of glasses is correct. Two shoes is ok, but a pair of shoes is better. The list could go on; headphones, shoelaces, scissors, shorts, gloves... etc.

In Mandarin I got very confused because the classifier for veichles is very similiar to the word for a pair. So when I learnt bicycle I had assumed I was hearing a pair of wheels or similiar because of our sometimes odd rules about pairs.

两
liǎng​
Pair / Two / Both



辆
liàng​
Classifier for veichles (辆自行车 liàng​ zì xíng chē)

This proverb could be used to express the idea of somone with 'more words than action'. Which is to say that someone says they will do something and then not deliver upon their word.

This proverb is used when things get too much, or no matter what is tried, new problems keep surfacing.

This proverb suits my past week, it is often used to describe someone who has worked extremely hard. Recently I have taken on more projects than my watch can handle, (at least whilst keeping up with my unpaid jollys) and if I could stop time to finish and spend all the time I want to on each thing, I would love to.

Sodagreen have got a new song: 狂熱 (fever?) It is ridiculously catchy. It is not as calm and relaxed as the songs I posted last week.

Sodagreen have a new album due out soon, and a world tour upcoming.

As I have been wasting time in between being insanely busy, I came across this great animation. I first want to Introduce you to the kickass Super Baozi.



Here is the first great Video of him beating up Sushi Man.

Super Baozi vs Sushi man from sun haipeng on Vimeo.

Dragon Fist from sun haipeng on Vimeo.

This is a proverb that is in use in many cultures. It is often used in circumstances where things are in short supply, such as limited edition things in shops. It also means that there is no preferential treatment or reservations for people that may have a better relationship.

This is a saying from Lao Zi's (老子), Dao De Jing (道德经). It follows on from my thoughts about silence yesterday.

Here are the 31 Daily Chinese Proverbs I published and translated into English, Hanyu Pinyin and Mandarin during August. I have compiled the here for your ease.


August 1st