諺語 · a single proverb
禮尚往來
Simplified: 礼尚往来
What does 禮尚往來 (lǐ shàng wǎng lái) mean?
禮尚往來 (lǐ shàng wǎng lái) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "courtesy emphasizes reciprocity." In use it means: Kindness should be returned; relationships thrive on mutual giving. 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 Pig.
Literally: "courtesy emphasizes reciprocity."
The reading
You bring a gift and I bring one back. Not because a ledger demands it, but because the exchange itself is the relationship. The gift is a pretext. The real transaction is the message: I noticed you. I remembered. I came back. Every act of reciprocity is a vote cast for the continuation of the bond.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Book of Rites 禮記, Qu Li 曲禮上
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 禮尚往來 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 禮尚往來 (lǐ shàng wǎng lái) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Book of Rites 禮記, Qu Li 曲禮上. 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 禮尚往來?
In Mandarin it is lǐ shàng wǎng lái. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 禮尚往來 aloud in Mandarin.