諺語 · a single proverb
風馬牛不相及
Simplified: 风马牛不相及
What does 風馬牛不相及 (fēng mǎ niú bù xiāng jí) mean?
風馬牛不相及 (fēng mǎ niú bù xiāng jí) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "wind, horses, and cows have nothing to do with each other." In use it means: Two things that are completely unrelated; a comparison that makes no sense. 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 Rat.
Literally: "wind, horses, and cows have nothing to do with each other."
The reading
Some arguments fail not because either side is wrong, but because the two sides are talking about entirely different things. The horse is in one field, the cow is in another, and the wind blows between them without connecting anything. Before you argue, confirm you are arguing about the same subject.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Zuo Zhuan 左傳, Duke Xi Year 4 (僖公四年)
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 風馬牛不相及 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 風馬牛不相及 (fēng mǎ niú bù xiāng jí) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Zuo Zhuan 左傳, Duke Xi Year 4 (僖公四年). 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 風馬牛不相及?
In Mandarin it is fēng mǎ niú bù xiāng jí. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 風馬牛不相及 aloud in Mandarin.