諺語 · a single proverb
水滿則溢
Simplified: 水满则溢
What does 水滿則溢 (shuǐ mǎn zé yì) mean?
水滿則溢 (shuǐ mǎn zé yì) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "water full then overflows." In use it means: When something reaches its peak, it must decline; excess leads to loss. 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 Goat.
Literally: "water full then overflows."
The reading
The cup does not argue with the law of fullness; when it is full, it spills. Those who understand this pour out a little before the overflow and call it wisdom rather than waste. The art is in knowing exactly where full ends and too much begins, and not waiting for the flood to tell you.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Shi Ji 史記·范雎蔡澤列傳 (Fàn Suī Cài Zé biography)
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 Harmony, Virtue & Balance, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Goat, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 水滿則溢 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 水滿則溢 (shuǐ mǎn zé yì) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Shi Ji 史記·范雎蔡澤列傳 (Fàn Suī Cài Zé biography). 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 水滿則溢?
In Mandarin it is shuǐ mǎn zé yì. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 水滿則溢 aloud in Mandarin.