諺語 · a single proverb
無風不起浪
Simplified: 无风不起浪
What does 無風不起浪 (wú fēng bù qǐ làng) mean?
無風不起浪 (wú fēng bù qǐ làng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "no wind does not raise waves." In use it means: There is no smoke without fire; every effect has a cause. 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 Dragon.
Literally: "no wind does not raise waves."
The reading
The water was calm and then it was not, and the disturbance knows what made it. Rumors, rumors especially, are never entirely without foundation even when they are entirely without fairness. Look for the wind before you dismiss the waves.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional Chinese folk proverb (suyu)
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 Dragon, Year of the Frog, and Year of the Rat.
Questions
Is 無風不起浪 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 無風不起浪 (wú fēng bù qǐ làng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese folk proverb (suyu). 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 無風不起浪?
In Mandarin it is wú fēng bù qǐ làng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 無風不起浪 aloud in Mandarin.