諺語 · a single proverb
摸著石頭過河
Simplified: 摸着石头过河
What does 摸著石頭過河 (mō zhe shí tou guò hé) mean?
摸著石頭過河 (mō zhe shí tou guò hé) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "Cross the river by feeling the stones." In use it means: Proceed carefully and experimentally when facing an unknown situation. Take cautious, incremental steps rather than rushing forward blindly. 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 Ox.
Literally: "Cross the river by feeling the stones.."
The reading
The far bank is visible but the riverbed is not. Each stone you find with your foot becomes the only ground you can trust. This is not timidity; it is the courage to move forward without a map. The river respects those who respect its hidden depth.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Popularized by Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s as a metaphor for economic reform; the saying predates him as folk wisdom.
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 Courage & Decisive Action, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Ox, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Tiger.
Questions
Is 摸著石頭過河 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 摸著石頭過河 (mō zhe shí tou guò hé) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Popularized by Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s as a metaphor for economic reform; the saying predates him as folk wisdom.. 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 摸著石頭過河?
In Mandarin it is mō zhe shí tou guò hé. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 摸著石頭過河 aloud in Mandarin.