諺語 · a single proverb

富fù貴guì險xiǎn中zhōng求qiú

Simplified: 富贵险中求

fù guì xiǎn zhōng qiú

What does 富貴險中求 (fù guì xiǎn zhōng qiú) mean?

富貴險中求 (fù guì xiǎn zhōng qiú) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "wealth and honour are found in danger." In use it means: The biggest rewards sit behind the biggest risks. Playing it safe keeps you safe, not rich. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Fire note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Tiger.

Literally: "wealth and honour are found in danger."

The reading

The calm road leads to a calm destination. If you want something extraordinary, you have to walk a road that is not calm. The danger is real. The reward is also real. The question is whether the reward is worth the shaking hands.

What kind of proverb it is

Source Folk proverb; found in Ming/Qing novels and military discourse

Sits beside

一寸光陰一寸金

yī cùn guāng yīn yī cùn jīn

Time is as precious as gold.

一本萬利

yī běn wàn lì

A tiny investment yields an enormous return.

人為財死，鳥為食亡

rén wéi cái sǐ niǎo wéi shí wáng

The drive for material gain can be as fatal as any predator.

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 Wealth, Work & Diligence, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Tiger, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.

Questions

Is 富貴險中求 a real Chinese proverb?

Yes. 富貴險中求 (fù guì xiǎn zhōng qiú) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Folk proverb; found in Ming/Qing novels and military discourse. 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 富貴險中求?

In Mandarin it is fù guì xiǎn zhōng qiú. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 富貴險中求 aloud in Mandarin.