諺語 · a single proverb
兵來將擋，水來土掩
Simplified: 兵来将挡，水来土掩
What does 兵來將擋，水來土掩 (bīng lái jiàng dǎng shuǐ lái tǔ yǎn) mean?
兵來將擋，水來土掩 (bīng lái jiàng dǎng shuǐ lái tǔ yǎn) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "when soldiers come, a general blocks them; when water comes, earth dams it." In use it means: Every problem has a matching response. Face what comes with whatever fits. 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 Dog.
Literally: "when soldiers come, a general blocks them; when water comes, earth dams it."
The reading
The worry about tomorrow is always about having the wrong tool. But the saying points out that the right tool shows up with the problem. Soldiers bring the general out of the barracks. Water brings the sandbags out of the shed. You do not need to prepare for everything. You need to respond to what arrives.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Yuan dynasty drama 元曲; folk proverb
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 Adversity & Resilience, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Dog, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 兵來將擋，水來土掩 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 兵來將擋，水來土掩 (bīng lái jiàng dǎng shuǐ lái tǔ yǎn) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Yuan dynasty drama 元曲; folk proverb. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 兵來將擋，水來土掩?
In Mandarin it is bīng lái jiàng dǎng shuǐ lái tǔ yǎn. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 兵來將擋，水來土掩 aloud in Mandarin.