諺語 · a single proverb
入人問事先敬幾分
Simplified: 入人问事先敬几分
What does 入人問事先敬幾分 (rù rén wèn shì xiān jìng jǐ fēn) mean?
入人問事先敬幾分 (rù rén wèn shì xiān jìng jǐ fēn) is a colloquial saying (súyǔ 俗語). Word for word it reads "when entering someone's space to ask questions, first offer respect." In use it means: Approach others with courtesy before making requests; respect opens doors that demands cannot. 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: "when entering someone's space to ask questions, first offer respect."
The reading
The person asking for directions does better with a bow than with a shout. This is not about submission. It is about acknowledging that you need something and the other person does not owe it to you. Respect is not a weakness. It is the entry fee for cooperation, and it is the cheapest fee you will ever pay for the most valuable thing you will ever receive.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Regional folk proverb; common in southern Chinese dialects
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 Friendship, Trust & Speech, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Pig, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 入人問事先敬幾分 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 入人問事先敬幾分 (rù rén wèn shì xiān jìng jǐ fēn) is a colloquial saying (súyǔ 俗語), and it comes from Regional folk proverb; common in southern Chinese dialects. 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 入人問事先敬幾分?
In Mandarin it is rù rén wèn shì xiān jìng jǐ fēn. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 入人問事先敬幾分 aloud in Mandarin.