諺語 · a single proverb

家jiā有yǒu萬wàn貫guàn,，不bù如rú日rì進jìn分fēn文wén

Simplified: 家有万贯，不如日进分文

jiā yǒu wàn guàn, bù rú rì jìn fēn wén

What does 家有萬貫，不如日進分文 (jiā yǒu wàn guàn, bù rú rì jìn fēn wén) mean?

家有萬貫，不如日進分文 (jiā yǒu wàn guàn, bù rú rì jìn fēn wén) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "Having ten thousand strings of cash is not as good as earning a fraction daily." In use it means: A steady income, no matter how small, is more valuable than a large but static fortune. Cash flow matters more than stored wealth. 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 Ox.

Literally: "Having ten thousand strings of cash is not as good as earning a fraction daily.."

The reading

The family sitting on inherited wealth without income is spending down a clock. Daily earnings, however modest, represent a living system that replenishes itself. Stagnant money is like stagnant water: it eventually grows foul. The small daily profit is proof that a business breathes and that the merchant remains connected to the marketplace. Flow always outlasts accumulation.

What kind of proverb it is

Source Traditional folk proverb, widely used in Jiangnan (江南) merchant communities

Sits beside

一寸光陰一寸金

yī cùn guāng yīn yī cùn jīn

Time is as precious as gold.

一本萬利

yī běn wàn lì

A tiny investment yields an enormous return.

人為財死，鳥為食亡

rén wéi cái sǐ niǎo wéi shí wáng

The drive for material gain can be as fatal as any predator.

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 Wealth, Work & Diligence, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Ox, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Tiger.

Questions

Is 家有萬貫，不如日進分文 a real Chinese proverb?

Yes. 家有萬貫，不如日進分文 (jiā yǒu wàn guàn, bù rú rì jìn fēn wén) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional folk proverb, widely used in Jiangnan (江南) merchant communities. 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 家有萬貫，不如日進分文?

In Mandarin it is jiā yǒu wàn guàn, bù rú rì jìn fēn wén. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 家有萬貫，不如日進分文 aloud in Mandarin.