諺語 · a single proverb

寒hán露lù不bù算suàn冷lěng,，霜shuāng降jiàng變biàn了le天tiān

Simplified: 寒露不算冷，霜降变了天

hán lù bù suàn lěng, shuāng jiàng biàn le tiān

What does 寒露不算冷，霜降變了天 (hán lù bù suàn lěng, shuāng jiàng biàn le tiān) mean?

寒露不算冷，霜降變了天 (hán lù bù suàn lěng, shuāng jiàng biàn le tiān) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "Cold Dew is not truly cold; Frost Descent changes the sky." In use it means: The solar term Hanlu (Cold Dew, around October 8) brings a chill but remains tolerable. It is Shuangjiang (Frost Descent, around October 23) that marks the real shift into cold weather. 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 Dog.

Literally: "Cold Dew is not truly cold; Frost Descent changes the sky.."

The reading

Warning signs are gentler than the event they precede, which is why so many people ignore them. The difference between a chill and true cold is the difference between discomfort and danger. Transitions give notice, but only to those paying attention. By the time the change is obvious, the time for easy preparation has passed.

What kind of proverb it is

Source Solar term weather proverb, northern Chinese farming tradition

Sits beside

冬至陽生春又來

dōng zhì yáng shēng chūn yòu lái

At the darkest moment of winter, yang energy is reborn and spring begins its return.

夜長夢多

yè cháng mèng duō

Delay leads to complications.

太公釣魚，願者上鉤

tài gōng diào yú yuàn zhě shàng gōu

The best way to attract people is not through trickery but through genuine worth.

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 Timing & Fortune's Turning, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Dog, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.

Questions

Is 寒露不算冷，霜降變了天 a real Chinese proverb?

Yes. 寒露不算冷，霜降變了天 (hán lù bù suàn lěng, shuāng jiàng biàn le tiān) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Solar term weather proverb, northern Chinese farming tradition. 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 寒露不算冷，霜降變了天?

In Mandarin it is hán lù bù suàn lěng, shuāng jiàng biàn le tiān. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 寒露不算冷，霜降變了天 aloud in Mandarin.