諺語 · a single proverb

兩liǎng樂lè傷shāng害hài取qǔ其qí輕qīng,，兩liǎng利lì相xiāng權quán取qǔ其qí重zhòng

Simplified: 两乐伤害取其轻，两利相权取其重

liǎng lè shāng hài qǔ qí qīng, liǎng lì xiāng quán qǔ qí zhòng

What does 兩樂傷害取其輕，兩利相權取其重 (liǎng lè shāng hài qǔ qí qīng, liǎng lì xiāng quán qǔ qí zhòng) mean?

兩樂傷害取其輕，兩利相權取其重 (liǎng lè shāng hài qǔ qí qīng, liǎng lì xiāng quán qǔ qí zhòng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "between two harms choose the lighter, between two gains choose the greater." In use it means: When faced with imperfect options, minimize damage or maximize benefit; perfect choices rarely exist. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Snake.

Literally: "between two harms choose the lighter, between two gains choose the greater."

The reading

The decision is not between good and bad. It is between bad and worse, or between good and better. Once you accept that perfect options do not exist, the real skill becomes clear: measuring trade-offs accurately and choosing the side of the scale that costs less or gains more.

What kind of proverb it is

Source Attributed to Mencius 孟子; common in Chinese ethical reasoning

Sits beside

偷梁換柱

tōu liáng huàn zhù

A secret substitution.

先入為主

xiān rù wéi zhǔ

First impressions dominate perception.

千里之堤，潰於蟻穴

qiān lǐ zhī dī kuì yú yǐ xué

Small problems ignored become catastrophic.

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 Wisdom & Learning, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Snake, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.

Questions

Is 兩樂傷害取其輕，兩利相權取其重 a real Chinese proverb?

Yes. 兩樂傷害取其輕，兩利相權取其重 (liǎng lè shāng hài qǔ qí qīng, liǎng lì xiāng quán qǔ qí zhòng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Attributed to Mencius 孟子; common in Chinese ethical reasoning. 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 兩樂傷害取其輕，兩利相權取其重?

In Mandarin it is liǎng lè shāng hài qǔ qí qīng, liǎng lì xiāng quán qǔ qí zhòng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 兩樂傷害取其輕，兩利相權取其重 aloud in Mandarin.