諺語 · a single proverb
人不可貌相
What does 人不可貌相 (rén bù kě mào xiāng) mean?
人不可貌相 (rén bù kě mào xiāng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "a person cannot be judged by appearance." In use it means: Do not judge people by how they look; substance is hidden beneath the surface. 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 Pig.
Literally: "a person cannot be judged by appearance."
The reading
The container tells you nothing about the contents. The person who looks unimpressive might be carrying the answer you have been looking for. The person who looks impressive might be carrying nothing at all. Open the lid before you decide.
What kind of proverb it is
Source folk proverb; paired with 海水不可斗量
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 Harmony, Virtue & Balance, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Pig, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 人不可貌相 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 人不可貌相 (rén bù kě mào xiāng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from folk proverb; paired with 海水不可斗量. 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 人不可貌相?
In Mandarin it is rén bù kě mào xiāng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 人不可貌相 aloud in Mandarin.