諺語 · a single proverb
事不可失，一事在人
What does 事不可失，一事在人 (shì bù kě shī yī shì zài rén) mean?
事不可失，一事在人 (shì bù kě shī yī shì zài rén) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "matters cannot be missed, one matter rests with person." In use it means: No opportunity should be squandered; each affair ultimately depends on the person. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Fire note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Horse.
Literally: "matters cannot be missed, one matter rests with person."
The reading
The clock of the opportunity does not stop to be consulted; it moves past while the consultation is happening. Each matter that passes through your hands carries some portion of its outcome in your direction, and the person who grasps this takes their portion without waiting to be reminded. Responsibility is not a burden but an invitation.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional Chinese folk saying
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 Timing & Fortune's Turning, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Horse, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 事不可失，一事在人 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 事不可失，一事在人 (shì bù kě shī yī shì zài rén) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese folk saying. 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 事不可失，一事在人?
In Mandarin it is shì bù kě shī yī shì zài rén. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 事不可失，一事在人 aloud in Mandarin.