諺語 · a single proverb
授人以魚不如授人以漁
Simplified: 授人以鱼不如授人以渔
What does 授人以魚不如授人以漁 (shòu rén yǐ yú bù rú shòu rén yǐ yú) mean?
授人以魚不如授人以漁 (shòu rén yǐ yú bù rú shòu rén yǐ yú) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "give a person a fish not equal to teach a person fishing." In use it means: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Water note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Monkey.
Literally: "give a person a fish not equal to teach a person fishing."
The reading
The meal handed over is a kindness; the skill transmitted is a different kind of gift entirely, one that reproduces itself. What we give to the hand is temporary but what we give to the hands that know how is a fire that keeps lighting itself. Teaching is the longer form of generosity.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Attributed to Laozi tradition; common in Chinese educational philosophy
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 授人以魚不如授人以漁 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 授人以魚不如授人以漁 (shòu rén yǐ yú bù rú shòu rén yǐ yú) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Attributed to Laozi tradition; common in Chinese educational philosophy. 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 授人以魚不如授人以漁?
In Mandarin it is shòu rén yǐ yú bù rú shòu rén yǐ yú. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 授人以魚不如授人以漁 aloud in Mandarin.