諺語 · a single proverb
秉燭夜遊
Simplified: 秉烛夜游
What does 秉燭夜遊 (bǐng zhú yè yóu) mean?
秉燭夜遊 (bǐng zhú yè yóu) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "hold a candle and travel by night." In use it means: Life is short, so seize the time and enjoy it while you can, even working through the night. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Fire note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Rabbit.
Literally: "hold a candle and travel by night."
The reading
The daylight hours were not enough. So the candle came out, and the night became usable. This is not about exhaustion. It is about urgency. When you understand how finite time is, the night stops being an obstacle and becomes an opportunity. The candle is small, but it extends the day.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Cao Pi 曹丕, Letter to Wu Zhi 與吳質書 (Three Kingdoms period)
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 Nature, Seasons & Health, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Rabbit, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 秉燭夜遊 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 秉燭夜遊 (bǐng zhú yè yóu) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Cao Pi 曹丕, Letter to Wu Zhi 與吳質書 (Three Kingdoms period). 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 秉燭夜遊?
In Mandarin it is bǐng zhú yè yóu. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 秉燭夜遊 aloud in Mandarin.