諺語 · a single proverb
身體髮膚，受之父母
Simplified: 身体发肤，受之父母
What does 身體髮膚，受之父母 (shēn tǐ fà fū shòu zhī fù mǔ) mean?
身體髮膚，受之父母 (shēn tǐ fà fū shòu zhī fù mǔ) is a line of classical verse (shīcí 詩詞). Word for word it reads "body, hair, and skin are received from one's parents." In use it means: Your physical self is a gift from your parents; caring for yourself is a form of honoring them. 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: "body, hair, and skin are received from one's parents."
The reading
You did not build this body. It was assembled over nine months by someone who counted the days. The arms, the breath, the capacity to feel the sun on your face: these came from two people who had no guarantee they would receive anything in return. Taking care of yourself is the minimum acknowledgment of that investment.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Classic of Filial Piety 孝經 (Xiao Jing), ch. 1
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 Home, Family & Roots, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Pig, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 身體髮膚，受之父母 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 身體髮膚，受之父母 (shēn tǐ fà fū shòu zhī fù mǔ) is a line of classical verse (shīcí 詩詞), and it comes from Classic of Filial Piety 孝經 (Xiao Jing), ch. 1. 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 身體髮膚，受之父母?
In Mandarin it is shēn tǐ fà fū shòu zhī fù mǔ. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 身體髮膚，受之父母 aloud in Mandarin.