諺語 · a single proverb
逆水行舟，不進則退
Simplified: 逆水行舟，不进则退
What does 逆水行舟，不進則退 (nì shuǐ xíng zhōu, bù jìn zé tuì) mean?
逆水行舟，不進則退 (nì shuǐ xíng zhōu, bù jìn zé tuì) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "Sailing against the current: if you don't advance, you fall back." In use it means: In a competitive or challenging environment, standing still is the same as losing ground. Continuous effort is required just to maintain your position. 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: "Sailing against the current: if you don't advance, you fall back.."
The reading
The river never pauses, so neither can you. There is no resting place in a current that flows against you. What feels like holding steady is already slipping backward. The only honest direction is forward, stroke after stroke, without counting the distance remaining.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional proverb, widely cited in Qing dynasty educational texts; popularized by Liang Qichao.
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 Perseverance & the Long Road, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Ox, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Tiger.
Questions
Is 逆水行舟，不進則退 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 逆水行舟，不進則退 (nì shuǐ xíng zhōu, bù jìn zé tuì) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional proverb, widely cited in Qing dynasty educational texts; popularized by Liang Qichao.. 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 逆水行舟，不進則退?
In Mandarin it is nì shuǐ xíng zhōu, bù jìn zé tuì. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 逆水行舟，不進則退 aloud in Mandarin.