諺語 · a single proverb
明人不做暗事
What does 明人不做暗事 (míng rén bù zuò àn shì) mean?
明人不做暗事 (míng rén bù zuò àn shì) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "an upright person does not do things in the dark." In use it means: An honest person acts openly and has nothing to hide; transparency is the hallmark of integrity. 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 Rooster.
Literally: "an upright person does not do things in the dark."
The reading
If you would not do it with the lights on, do not do it with the lights off. This is the simplest test of conduct ever invented, and it has never been wrong. The person who does everything in daylight sleeps well at night because there is no knock on the door they are afraid of hearing.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Common folk proverb; widely used in Chinese vernacular literature
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 Rooster, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 明人不做暗事 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 明人不做暗事 (míng rén bù zuò àn shì) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Common folk proverb; widely used in Chinese vernacular literature. 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 明人不做暗事?
In Mandarin it is míng rén bù zuò àn shì. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 明人不做暗事 aloud in Mandarin.