八bā成chéng熟shú十shí成chéng收shōu,，十shí成chéng熟shú二èr成chéng丟diū

What does 八成熟十成收，十成熟二成丟 (bā chéng shú shí chéng shōu, shí chéng shú èr chéng diū) mean?

八成熟十成收，十成熟二成丟 (bā chéng shú shí chéng shōu, shí chéng shú èr chéng diū) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "Harvest at eighty percent ripe and gain one hundred percent; harvest at one hundred percent ripe and lose twenty percent." In use it means: Grain harvested slightly before full ripeness yields the maximum usable crop, because waiting for absolute ripeness causes shattering, bird damage, and weather losses that reduce the actual yield significantly. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Earth note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Rooster.

Literally: "Harvest at eighty percent ripe and gain one hundred percent; harvest at one hundred percent ripe and lose twenty percent."

The reading

Perfection on the stalk does not equal perfection in the granary. The farmer who waits for every kernel to reach ideal maturity loses grain to wind, to birds, to the simple physics of overripe heads dropping their seeds. Harvesting a fraction early captures what further patience would have surrendered, reflecting a precision in timing rather than any lack of care. Knowing when to stop waiting is as important as knowing when to wait.

What kind of proverb it is

• Typeyànyǔ 諺語
• FocusPresent-minded
• Element土 Earth
• Zodiac tie雞 Year of the Rooster

Source Grain-harvest timing proverb common across Chinese farming regions, practical wisdom on optimal harvest windows

Sits beside

Keep reading

Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Wisdom & Learning, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Rooster, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.