諺語 · a single proverb
福無雙至，禍不單行
Simplified: 福无双至，祸不单行
What does 福無雙至，禍不單行 (fú wú shuāng zhì huò bù dān xíng) mean?
福無雙至，禍不單行 (fú wú shuāng zhì huò bù dān xíng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "fortune does not come doubly, misfortune does not travel alone." In use it means: Good fortune rarely doubles, but misfortune often comes in groups. 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 Goat.
Literally: "fortune does not come doubly, misfortune does not travel alone."
The reading
The string of difficulties is not a punishment but a pattern, one that knows its own end even when we cannot see it. Understanding that trouble runs in clusters keeps you from believing the cluster is the whole story. The weather breaks, always, and the single clear day is not far behind.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional Chinese folk saying (common in theatrical and literary usage)
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 Adversity & Resilience, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Goat, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 福無雙至，禍不單行 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 福無雙至，禍不單行 (fú wú shuāng zhì huò bù dān xíng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese folk saying (common in theatrical and literary usage). 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 福無雙至，禍不單行?
In Mandarin it is fú wú shuāng zhì huò bù dān xíng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 福無雙至，禍不單行 aloud in Mandarin.