諺語 · a single proverb
好木不怕鑽
Simplified: 好木不怕钻
What does 好木不怕鑽 (hǎo mù bú pà zuān) mean?
好木不怕鑽 (hǎo mù bú pà zuān) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "Good wood fears no drill." In use it means: High-quality timber does not crack, split, or splinter when drilled. By extension, a person of genuine ability welcomes scrutiny and testing because their quality will only become more apparent under examination. 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 Dog.
Literally: "Good wood fears no drill."
The reading
The carpenter choosing timber for a demanding joint picks up a piece and tests it. Dense, straight-grained hardwood accepts the drill cleanly, producing a neat hole with smooth walls, while inferior wood, riddled with hidden knots and soft spots, cracks at the first pressure. Quality cannot be faked under the drill's point. Those who resist examination usually have something fragile to hide, while those who welcome it know that investigation will only confirm what they already know about themselves.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Chinese carpentry folk proverb
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 Dog, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 好木不怕鑽 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 好木不怕鑽 (hǎo mù bú pà zuān) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Chinese carpentry folk proverb. 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 好木不怕鑽?
In Mandarin it is hǎo mù bú pà zuān. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 好木不怕鑽 aloud in Mandarin.