諺語 · a single proverb
地大物博
What does 地大物博 (dì dà wù bó) mean?
地大物博 (dì dà wù bó) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "vast land and abundant resources." In use it means: A country or place that is large and rich. The sheer scale of what is available. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Earth note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Ox.
Literally: "vast land and abundant resources."
The reading
The phrase is about geography, but it is also about attitude. A place that is large and full of resources can afford patience. It does not need to grab, because there is enough. The person who understands abundance behaves differently from the one who thinks everything is running out.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Common idiom; used in descriptions of China since Qing dynasty
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 Nature, Seasons & Health, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Ox, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Tiger.
Questions
Is 地大物博 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 地大物博 (dì dà wù bó) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Common idiom; used in descriptions of China since Qing dynasty. 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 地大物博?
In Mandarin it is dì dà wù bó. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 地大物博 aloud in Mandarin.