三sān分fēn手shǒu藝yì七qī分fēn家jiā什shi

What does 三分手藝七分家什 (sān fēn shǒu yì qī fēn jiā shi) mean?

三分手藝七分家什 (sān fēn shǒu yì qī fēn jiā shi) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "Three parts skill, seven parts tools." In use it means: Good tools contribute even more to quality work than the artisan's personal technique. An experienced craftsperson with poor tools struggles, while even moderate skill paired with excellent tools can produce fine results. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Rooster.

Literally: "Three parts skill, seven parts tools."

The reading

This saying circulates in every guild and workshop across China, a frank admission that human hands, however trained, can only do what their instruments allow. The carpenter's plane must hold its edge, the potter's wheel must spin true, and the painter's brush must respond to the wrist. Neglecting your tools is a form of self-sabotage that no amount of talent can overcome. Maintaining, sharpening, and selecting the right instrument for each task is itself a discipline, quiet, unglamorous, and absolutely foundational.

What kind of proverb it is

• Typeyànyǔ 諺語
• FocusPresent-minded
• Element金 Metal
• Zodiac tie雞 Year of the Rooster

Source Chinese artisan folk saying, common across carpentry, pottery, and metalworking trades

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 Wealth, Work & Diligence, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Rooster, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.