諺語 · a single proverb
火中取栗
What does 火中取栗 (huǒ zhōng qǔ lì) mean?
火中取栗 (huǒ zhōng qǔ lì) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "pulling chestnuts from the fire." In use it means: Doing the dangerous work while someone else benefits. The monkey burns its paw; the cat eats the chestnut. 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 Monkey.
Literally: "pulling chestnuts from the fire."
The reading
The cat convinced the monkey to reach into the fire. The monkey did the burning. The cat did the eating. If someone is asking you to take a risk while they stand at a safe distance, check who gets the chestnut.
What kind of proverb it is
Source European fable (La Fontaine) absorbed into Chinese; widely used as chengyu
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 Wisdom & Learning, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Monkey, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 火中取栗 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 火中取栗 (huǒ zhōng qǔ lì) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from European fable (La Fontaine) absorbed into Chinese; widely used as chengyu. 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 火中取栗?
In Mandarin it is huǒ zhōng qǔ lì. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 火中取栗 aloud in Mandarin.