諺語 · a single proverb
河東獅吼
Simplified: 河东狮吼
What does 河東獅吼 (hé dōng shī hǒu) mean?
河東獅吼 (hé dōng shī hǒu) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "the lion roars east of the river." In use it means: A fierce spouse who rules the household. The humour is in the husband who thought he was in charge. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Fire note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Rooster.
Literally: "the lion roars east of the river."
The reading
The original story is about a man whose wife was so formidable that when she shouted, the walls shook and the guests left. The phrase became shorthand for anyone who discovers that the real authority in a house is not the one who holds the title.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Su Shi 蘇軾 poem about Chen Jichang 陳季常 (Song dynasty)
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 Rooster, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 河東獅吼 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 河東獅吼 (hé dōng shī hǒu) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Su Shi 蘇軾 poem about Chen Jichang 陳季常 (Song dynasty). 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 河東獅吼?
In Mandarin it is hé dōng shī hǒu. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 河東獅吼 aloud in Mandarin.