諺語 · a single proverb
此地無銀三百兩
Simplified: 此地无银三百两
What does 此地無銀三百兩 (cǐ dì wú yín sān bǎi liǎng) mean?
此地無銀三百兩 (cǐ dì wú yín sān bǎi liǎng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "three hundred taels of silver are not buried here." In use it means: An overly emphatic denial that reveals the very thing it tries to hide. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Rat.
Literally: "three hundred taels of silver are not buried here."
The reading
He buried the silver and posted a sign: 'No silver buried here.' The sign did more work for the thief than any map could. When someone loudly insists on a negative, listen to what the volume is telling you, not the words.
What kind of proverb it is
Source folk tale; Ming dynasty origin
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 Rat, Year of the Ox, and Year of the Tiger.
Questions
Is 此地無銀三百兩 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 此地無銀三百兩 (cǐ dì wú yín sān bǎi liǎng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from folk tale; Ming dynasty origin. 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 此地無銀三百兩?
In Mandarin it is cǐ dì wú yín sān bǎi liǎng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 此地無銀三百兩 aloud in Mandarin.