諺語 · a single proverb
各人自掃門前雪
Simplified: 各人自扫门前雪
What does 各人自掃門前雪 (gè rén zì sǎo mén qián xuě) mean?
各人自掃門前雪 (gè rén zì sǎo mén qián xuě) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "each person sweeps the snow in front of their own door." In use it means: Mind your own business and handle your own responsibilities before worrying about others. 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 Pig.
Literally: "each person sweeps the snow in front of their own door."
The reading
There is enough snow in front of your own door to keep you busy. The person who is sweeping the neighbor's walk while their own is covered in ice is performing generosity at the expense of their own household. Start at home.
What kind of proverb it is
Source folk proverb; common Ming-Qing 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 Home, Family & Roots, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Pig, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 各人自掃門前雪 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 各人自掃門前雪 (gè rén zì sǎo mén qián xuě) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from folk proverb; common Ming-Qing 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 各人自掃門前雪?
In Mandarin it is gè rén zì sǎo mén qián xuě. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 各人自掃門前雪 aloud in Mandarin.