諺語 · a single proverb
農夫與蛇
Simplified: 农夫与蛇
What does 農夫與蛇 (nóng fū yǔ shé) mean?
農夫與蛇 (nóng fū yǔ shé) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "the farmer and the snake." In use it means: Kindness given to something dangerous does not change its nature. The farmer who warms the frozen snake gets bitten when it revives. Compassion should be informed by judgment. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Wood note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Snake.
Literally: "the farmer and the snake."
The reading
The farmer's heart was good. The snake's nature was unchanged. Warmth revived the snake and the snake did what snakes do. The farmer's mistake was not kindness. It was the belief that kindness would rewrite biology. Help what can be helped. But know what you are holding before you hold it close.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Chinese folk version paralleling Aesop; adopted into Chinese moral education texts
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 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 農夫與蛇 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 農夫與蛇 (nóng fū yǔ shé) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Chinese folk version paralleling Aesop; adopted into Chinese moral education texts. 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 農夫與蛇?
In Mandarin it is nóng fū yǔ shé. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 農夫與蛇 aloud in Mandarin.