諺語 · a single proverb
程門立雪
Simplified: 程门立雪
What does 程門立雪 (chéng mén lì xuě) mean?
程門立雪 (chéng mén lì xuě) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "stand in the snow at Master Cheng's gate." In use it means: Show deep respect for a teacher by patiently waiting; reverence for learning. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Water note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Ox.
Literally: "stand in the snow at Master Cheng's gate."
The reading
The student stood in the falling snow rather than disturb the master's nap. When the master woke, the student was buried to the knees. Some lessons begin before the door opens. The waiting itself is the first lesson: patience, respect, readiness.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Song Shi 宋史, Yang Shi 楊時傳
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 Ox, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Tiger.
Questions
Is 程門立雪 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 程門立雪 (chéng mén lì xuě) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Song Shi 宋史, Yang Shi 楊時傳. 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 程門立雪?
In Mandarin it is chéng mén lì xuě. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 程門立雪 aloud in Mandarin.