諺語 · a single proverb
深山藏虎豹
What does 深山藏虎豹 (shēn shān cáng hǔ bào) mean?
深山藏虎豹 (shēn shān cáng hǔ bào) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "Deep mountains conceal tigers and leopards." In use it means: Profound or dangerous things lurk in places that are hard to reach. Powerful forces hide in the depths, unseen by those who stay on the surface. 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 Tiger.
Literally: "Deep mountains conceal tigers and leopards.."
The reading
What the mountain keeps hidden is usually more formidable than what it displays. The casual hiker sees trees and trails; the one who goes deeper meets the teeth. Depth always comes with risk, whether you are exploring a mountain, a person, or an idea. Respect for the unseen is not superstition; it is the acknowledgment that surfaces tell partial stories. The deeper you go, the more honest the encounter becomes.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional folk proverb, common in Chinese rural and hunting communities
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 Tiger, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 深山藏虎豹 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 深山藏虎豹 (shēn shān cáng hǔ bào) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional folk proverb, common in Chinese rural and hunting communities. 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 深山藏虎豹?
In Mandarin it is shēn shān cáng hǔ bào. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 深山藏虎豹 aloud in Mandarin.