諺語 · a single proverb
強龍不壓地頭蛇
Simplified: 强龙不压地头蛇
What does 強龍不壓地頭蛇 (qiáng lóng bù yā dì tóu shé) mean?
強龍不壓地頭蛇 (qiáng lóng bù yā dì tóu shé) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "even a strong dragon cannot crush the local snake." In use it means: An outsider, however powerful, cannot easily overcome those with deep local knowledge and connections. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Earth note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Dragon.
Literally: "even a strong dragon cannot crush the local snake."
The reading
The dragon flew in from far away. The snake was born in this ground and knows every hole. Power from outside meets knowledge from inside, and knowledge wins. The locals always know something the visitor does not, no matter how impressive the visitor's wingspan.
What kind of proverb it is
Source folk proverb; common in martial arts and business contexts
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 Dragon, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 強龍不壓地頭蛇 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 強龍不壓地頭蛇 (qiáng lóng bù yā dì tóu shé) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from folk proverb; common in martial arts and business contexts. 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 強龍不壓地頭蛇?
In Mandarin it is qiáng lóng bù yā dì tóu shé. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 強龍不壓地頭蛇 aloud in Mandarin.