諺語 · a single proverb
虎毒不食子
What does 虎毒不食子 (hǔ dú bù shí zǐ) mean?
虎毒不食子 (hǔ dú bù shí zǐ) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "even a poisonous tiger does not eat its young." In use it means: Even the most cruel have limits to their cruelty, especially toward their own children. 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 Tiger.
Literally: "even a poisonous tiger does not eat its young."
The reading
The tiger kills without hesitation. Everything is prey except one thing. The cubs are exempt, not because the tiger is gentle, but because something deeper than its nature overrides it. When even the predator has a line it will not cross, you know the line is fundamental. Some bonds are stronger than appetite.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Common folk proverb; widespread across Chinese culture
Sits beside
外甥打燈籠——照舅（照舊）
wài shēng dǎ dēng long——zhào jiù (zhào jiù)
A pun on 照舅 (illuminating the uncle) and 照舊 (as before).
家有黃金，不如有個好鄰居
jiā yǒu huáng jīn bù rú yǒu gè hǎo lín jū
A good neighbor is worth more than household gold.
龍生龍，鳳生鳳，老鼠生的兒子會打洞
lóng shēng lóng, fèng shēng fèng, lǎo shǔ shēng de ér zi huì dǎ dòng
Children tend to inherit or follow the traits and social standing of their parents.
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 Tiger, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 虎毒不食子 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 虎毒不食子 (hǔ dú bù shí zǐ) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Common folk proverb; widespread across Chinese culture. 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 虎毒不食子?
In Mandarin it is hǔ dú bù shí zǐ. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 虎毒不食子 aloud in Mandarin.