諺語 · a single proverb
茶要淺，酒要滿
Simplified: 茶要浅，酒要满
What does 茶要淺，酒要滿 (chá yào qiǎn, jiǔ yào mǎn) mean?
茶要淺，酒要滿 (chá yào qiǎn, jiǔ yào mǎn) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "Tea should be poured shallow; wine should be poured full." In use it means: Proper etiquette dictates that tea is served only partially filling the cup, showing restraint, while wine is poured to the brim to show generosity and warmth toward the guest. 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 Rooster.
Literally: "Tea should be poured shallow; wine should be poured full.."
The reading
Each vessel asks for a different measure of attention. The tea cup, filled partway, leaves room for the host to return and refill, prolonging the visit. The wine cup, brimming over, says all at once what words might fail to say. Knowing how much to give and when to hold back is the quiet grammar of hospitality. The same liquid poured two ways carries two entirely different messages.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional Chinese banquet etiquette proverb, folk 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 Harmony, Virtue & Balance, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Rooster, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 茶要淺，酒要滿 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 茶要淺，酒要滿 (chá yào qiǎn, jiǔ yào mǎn) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese banquet etiquette proverb, folk 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 茶要淺，酒要滿?
In Mandarin it is chá yào qiǎn, jiǔ yào mǎn. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 茶要淺，酒要滿 aloud in Mandarin.