頭tóu水shuǐ早zǎo,，二èr水shuǐ趕gǎn,，三sān水shuǐ四sì水shuǐ緊jǐn相xiāng連lián

What does 頭水早，二水趕，三水四水緊相連 (tóu shuǐ zǎo, èr shuǐ gǎn, sān shuǐ sì shuǐ jǐn xiāng lián) mean?

頭水早，二水趕，三水四水緊相連 (tóu shuǐ zǎo, èr shuǐ gǎn, sān shuǐ sì shuǐ jǐn xiāng lián) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "First irrigation early, second irrigation rushed, third and fourth irrigations follow in tight succession." In use it means: The schedule for irrigating crops accelerates as the growing season progresses. The first watering can be timed at leisure, but each subsequent irrigation must follow more quickly as the plants' water needs increase with growth. 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 Rooster.

Literally: "First irrigation early, second irrigation rushed, third and fourth irrigations follow in tight succession."

The reading

Early in the season, water can wait. The seedlings are small, the roots shallow, and the soil still holds moisture from spring rain. But growth is an accelerating demand, not a steady one. As stalks rise and leaves spread, the interval between needed waterings compresses until the farmer is running from field to field with barely a pause, and understanding that the pace of care increases rather than holds steady is essential for anyone tending something alive.

What kind of proverb it is

• Typeyànyǔ 諺語
• FocusPresent-minded
• Element水 Water
• Zodiac tie雞 Year of the Rooster

Source Irrigation scheduling proverb from arid and semi-arid farming regions of northern China

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 The Way of Water, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Rooster, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.