諺語 · a single proverb

瓜guā田tián李lǐ下xià

guā tián lǐ xià

What does 瓜田李下 (guā tián lǐ xià) mean?

瓜田李下 (guā tián lǐ xià) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "melon field, plum tree below." In use it means: Avoid places or situations where your conduct might be misinterpreted; keep clear of suspicion. 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 Rabbit.

Literally: "melon field, plum tree below."

The reading

Adjusting your shoe in a melon field looks like stealing even when it is not. The appearance of doing wrong is not the same as doing wrong, but in the world of other people's watching, the difference is academic. Wisdom sometimes means choosing a different place to tie your sandal.

What kind of proverb it is

Source Wei Dynasty 魏·曹植《君子行》 (Jūn Zǐ Xíng)

Sits beside

坐井觀天

zuò jǐng guān tiān

Have a limited view.

寸進尺退

cùn jìn chǐ tuì

Gain an inch and lose a foot.

早知今日，何必當初

zǎo zhī jīn rì hé bì dāng chū

Had I known how it would turn out, I would have acted differently.

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 Rabbit, Year of the Frog, and Year of the Rat.

Questions

Is 瓜田李下 a real Chinese proverb?

Yes. 瓜田李下 (guā tián lǐ xià) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Wei Dynasty 魏·曹植《君子行》 (Jūn Zǐ Xíng). 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 瓜田李下?

In Mandarin it is guā tián lǐ xià. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 瓜田李下 aloud in Mandarin.