諺語 · a single proverb
不知者無畏
Simplified: 不知者无畏
What does 不知者無畏 (bù zhī zhě wú wèi) mean?
不知者無畏 (bù zhī zhě wú wèi) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "those who do not know have no fear." In use it means: Ignorance breeds false courage; people who do not understand the danger act fearlessly because they do not know what they are risking. 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: "those who do not know have no fear."
The reading
The child reaches for the flame because the child has never been burned. The experienced hand pulls back before reaching. Both responses look like character: one looks brave, the other cautious. But only one is informed. Courage without knowledge is just ignorance wearing a brave face. Learn first. Then decide whether to be afraid.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Common folk proverb; echoes classical observations on knowledge and fear
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 Courage & Decisive Action, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Rabbit, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 不知者無畏 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 不知者無畏 (bù zhī zhě wú wèi) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Common folk proverb; echoes classical observations on knowledge and fear. 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 不知者無畏?
In Mandarin it is bù zhī zhě wú wèi. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 不知者無畏 aloud in Mandarin.