諺語 · a single proverb
望子成龍，望女成鳳
Simplified: 望子成龙，望女成凤
What does 望子成龍，望女成鳳 (wàng zǐ chéng lóng, wàng nǚ chéng fèng) mean?
望子成龍，望女成鳳 (wàng zǐ chéng lóng, wàng nǚ chéng fèng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "Hope the son becomes a dragon, hope the daughter becomes a phoenix." In use it means: Every parent harbors the deep wish that their children will achieve greatness. The dragon and phoenix represent the highest aspirations for sons and daughters respectively. 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 Dragon.
Literally: "Hope the son becomes a dragon, hope the daughter becomes a phoenix.."
The reading
The weight of parental hope can be both wind beneath wings and chains on ankles. Every child carries dreams that are not entirely their own. The wish itself is ancient and human, crossing every border and century. What matters is whether hope becomes fuel or becomes a cage.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional proverb, widely used since the Míng Dynasty
Sits beside
外甥打燈籠——照舅（照舊）
wài shēng dǎ dēng long——zhào jiù (zhào jiù)
A pun on 照舅 (illuminating the uncle) and 照舊 (as before).
家有黃金，不如有個好鄰居
jiā yǒu huáng jīn bù rú yǒu gè hǎo lín jū
A good neighbor is worth more than household gold.
龍生龍，鳳生鳳，老鼠生的兒子會打洞
lóng shēng lóng, fèng shēng fèng, lǎo shǔ shēng de ér zi huì dǎ dòng
Children tend to inherit or follow the traits and social standing of their parents.
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 Dragon, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 望子成龍，望女成鳳 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 望子成龍，望女成鳳 (wàng zǐ chéng lóng, wàng nǚ chéng fèng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional proverb, widely used since the Míng Dynasty. 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 望子成龍，望女成鳳?
In Mandarin it is wàng zǐ chéng lóng, wàng nǚ chéng fèng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 望子成龍，望女成鳳 aloud in Mandarin.