諺語 · a single proverb
山中無老虎，猴子稱大王
Simplified: 山中无老虎，猴子称大王
What does 山中無老虎，猴子稱大王 (shān zhōng wú lǎo hǔ hóu zi chēng dà wáng) mean?
山中無老虎，猴子稱大王 (shān zhōng wú lǎo hǔ hóu zi chēng dà wáng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "when no tiger in the mountain, the monkey calls itself king." In use it means: When capable people are absent, mediocre ones take charge; in the absence of the best, a lesser claims the throne. 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 Monkey.
Literally: "when no tiger in the mountain, the monkey calls itself king."
The reading
The monkey's authority lasts exactly as long as the tiger's absence. The territory of leadership is always measured against the talent available to fill it, and what seems impressive with the mountain empty reveals its actual scale the moment a tiger returns. Know which kind of mountain you are standing on.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional Chinese folk proverb (yanyu)
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 Wisdom & Learning, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Monkey, Year of the Frog, and Year of the Rat.
Questions
Is 山中無老虎，猴子稱大王 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 山中無老虎，猴子稱大王 (shān zhōng wú lǎo hǔ hóu zi chēng dà wáng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese folk proverb (yanyu). 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 山中無老虎，猴子稱大王?
In Mandarin it is shān zhōng wú lǎo hǔ hóu zi chēng dà wáng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 山中無老虎，猴子稱大王 aloud in Mandarin.