諺語 · a single proverb
大風起於青萍之末
Simplified: 大风起于青萍之末
What does 大風起於青萍之末 (dà fēng qǐ yú qīng píng zhī mò) mean?
大風起於青萍之末 (dà fēng qǐ yú qīng píng zhī mò) is a line of classical verse (shīcí 詩詞). Word for word it reads "great winds start at the tips of green duckweed." In use it means: Every large event begins as something barely noticeable. Watch the small things. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Wood note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Snake.
Literally: "great winds start at the tips of green duckweed."
The reading
The typhoon that rips a roof off started as a breeze so small it could only move duckweed. By the time you can feel the wind, the direction is already set. If you want to change the outcome, catch it when it is still a ripple on a pond.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Song Yu 宋玉, 風賦 (Warring States period)
Sits beside
冬至陽生春又來
dōng zhì yáng shēng chūn yòu lái
At the darkest moment of winter, yang energy is reborn and spring begins its return.
夜長夢多
yè cháng mèng duō
Delay leads to complications.
太公釣魚，願者上鉤
tài gōng diào yú yuàn zhě shàng gōu
The best way to attract people is not through trickery but through genuine worth.
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 Timing & Fortune's Turning, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Snake, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 大風起於青萍之末 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 大風起於青萍之末 (dà fēng qǐ yú qīng píng zhī mò) is a line of classical verse (shīcí 詩詞), and it comes from Song Yu 宋玉, 風賦 (Warring States 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 大風起於青萍之末?
In Mandarin it is dà fēng qǐ yú qīng píng zhī mò. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 大風起於青萍之末 aloud in Mandarin.