諺語 · a single proverb
日出而作，日入而息
What does 日出而作，日入而息 (rì chū ér zuò rì rù ér xī) mean?
日出而作，日入而息 (rì chū ér zuò rì rù ér xī) is a line of classical verse (shīcí 詩詞). Word for word it reads "sun rises work, sun sets rest." In use it means: Rise with the sun to work, rest when it sets; live in accord with the natural rhythms. 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 Rooster.
Literally: "sun rises work, sun sets rest."
The reading
The body does not need convincing when it is aligned with the light. Work begun at dawn carries the energy of the rising world; rest welcomed at dusk allows the night to do its quiet restoration. Those who follow this cadence rarely complain of exhaustion, for the day itself is carrying them.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Shi Jing 詩經 / ancient folk song 《擊壤歌》 (Jī Rǎng Gē, Striking the Clod Song)
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 Nature, Seasons & Health, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Rooster, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Rabbit.
Questions
Is 日出而作，日入而息 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 日出而作，日入而息 (rì chū ér zuò rì rù ér xī) is a line of classical verse (shīcí 詩詞), and it comes from Shi Jing 詩經 / ancient folk song 《擊壤歌》 (Jī Rǎng Gē, Striking the Clod Song). 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 日出而作，日入而息?
In Mandarin it is rì chū ér zuò rì rù ér xī. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 日出而作，日入而息 aloud in Mandarin.