諺語 · a single proverb

有yǒu朋péng自zì遠yuǎn方fāng來lái，不bù亦yì樂lè乎hū

Simplified: 有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎

yǒu péng zì yuǎn fāng lái bù yì lè hū

What does 有朋自遠方來，不亦樂乎 (yǒu péng zì yuǎn fāng lái bù yì lè hū) mean?

有朋自遠方來，不亦樂乎 (yǒu péng zì yuǎn fāng lái bù yì lè hū) is a line of classical verse (shīcí 詩詞). Word for word it reads "when friends come from far away, is that not a joy." In use it means: The arrival of a friend from a great distance is one of life's genuine pleasures; reunion after long separation is cause for celebration. 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 Pig.

Literally: "when friends come from far away, is that not a joy."

The reading

They traveled for days. The arrival is not just a visit. It is a statement: you were worth the distance. There are few compliments more concrete than someone choosing to cross a map to sit across from you and share a meal.

What kind of proverb it is

Source Analects 論語, Book 1 (Xue Er 學而, ch. 1)

Sits beside

一個籬笆三個樁

yī gè lí ba sān gè zhuāng

Even the strongest person needs support.

三思而後行

sān sī ér hòu xíng

Deliberate before you act-turn a decision over more than once before letting it out of your hands.

人心隔肚皮

rén xīn gé dù pí

You can never truly see inside another person's heart.

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 Friendship, Trust & Speech, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Pig, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.

Questions

Is 有朋自遠方來，不亦樂乎 a real Chinese proverb?

Yes. 有朋自遠方來，不亦樂乎 (yǒu péng zì yuǎn fāng lái bù yì lè hū) is a line of classical verse (shīcí 詩詞), and it comes from Analects 論語, Book 1 (Xue Er 學而, ch. 1). 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 有朋自遠方來，不亦樂乎?

In Mandarin it is yǒu péng zì yuǎn fāng lái bù yì lè hū. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 有朋自遠方來，不亦樂乎 aloud in Mandarin.