諺語 · a single proverb
能屈能伸
What does 能屈能伸 (néng qū néng shēn) mean?
能屈能伸 (néng qū néng shēn) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "able to bend and able to stretch." In use it means: The flexibility to endure humiliation when necessary and to assert yourself when the time is right; adaptability without losing your core. 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 Snake.
Literally: "able to bend and able to stretch."
The reading
The reed bends in the storm and straightens after. The oak stands rigid and breaks. Flexibility is not weakness. It is the structural strategy that survives the widest range of conditions. The person who can bow today and stand tomorrow has a longer career than the one who can only do one.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Common folk proverb; attributed to Han Xin 韓信 tradition
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 Adversity & Resilience, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Snake, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 能屈能伸 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 能屈能伸 (néng qū néng shēn) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Common folk proverb; attributed to Han Xin 韓信 tradition. 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 能屈能伸?
In Mandarin it is néng qū néng shēn. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 能屈能伸 aloud in Mandarin.