諺語 · a single proverb
井水不犯河水
What does 井水不犯河水 (jǐng shuǐ bù fàn hé shuǐ) mean?
井水不犯河水 (jǐng shuǐ bù fàn hé shuǐ) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "well water does not disturb river water." In use it means: Mind one's own business; each thing stays in its own domain without encroaching on another's. 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 Pig.
Literally: "well water does not disturb river water."
The reading
The well and the river are both water and they have never met, each sufficient in its own basin. This is not coldness but wisdom: there are domains that do not require overlap, and the refusal to trespass is itself a form of respect. Clear boundaries between streams keeps both streams clean.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional Chinese folk proverb (suyu)
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 Harmony, Virtue & Balance, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Pig, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 井水不犯河水 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 井水不犯河水 (jǐng shuǐ bù fàn hé shuǐ) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese folk proverb (suyu). 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 井水不犯河水?
In Mandarin it is jǐng shuǐ bù fàn hé shuǐ. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 井水不犯河水 aloud in Mandarin.