諺語 · a single proverb
雷打冬，十個牛欄九個空
Simplified: 雷打冬，十个牛栏九个空
What does 雷打冬，十個牛欄九個空 (léi dǎ dōng, shí gè niú lán jiǔ gè kōng) mean?
雷打冬，十個牛欄九個空 (léi dǎ dōng, shí gè niú lán jiǔ gè kōng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "thunder strikes in winter, nine of ten cattle pens are empty." In use it means: Winter thunder foretells a hard season ahead; the unusual sign warns that losses will follow. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Earth note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Ox.
Literally: "thunder strikes in winter, nine of ten cattle pens are empty."
The reading
When nature sends a signal out of season, the wise take notice. The thunder that belongs to summer, arriving in winter, carries a different message. Those who read the signs early have time to prepare. Those who dismiss them learn the hard way.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Agricultural folk saying, widespread in southern Chinese farming communities
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 Nature, Seasons & Health, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Ox, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Tiger.
Questions
Is 雷打冬，十個牛欄九個空 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 雷打冬，十個牛欄九個空 (léi dǎ dōng, shí gè niú lán jiǔ gè kōng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Agricultural folk saying, widespread in southern Chinese farming 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 雷打冬，十個牛欄九個空?
In Mandarin it is léi dǎ dōng, shí gè niú lán jiǔ gè kōng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 雷打冬，十個牛欄九個空 aloud in Mandarin.