諺語 · a single proverb
細水長流
Simplified: 细水长流
What does 細水長流 (xì shuǐ cháng liú) mean?
細水長流 (xì shuǐ cháng liú) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "A thin stream flows long." In use it means: Using resources carefully and steadily ensures they last. Moderation and frugality sustain you far longer than lavish spending. 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 Rat.
Literally: "A thin stream flows long.."
The reading
The roaring waterfall is impressive but exhausts its pool by afternoon. The thin stream no one notices is still running next spring. There is a quiet intelligence in smallness that refuses to be spectacular. Lasting is a different kind of strength than bursting.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional proverb; appears in various Qing dynasty household management texts.
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 Wealth, Work & Diligence, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Rat, Year of the Ox, and Year of the Tiger.
Questions
Is 細水長流 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 細水長流 (xì shuǐ cháng liú) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Traditional proverb; appears in various Qing dynasty household management texts.. 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 細水長流?
In Mandarin it is xì shuǐ cháng liú. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 細水長流 aloud in Mandarin.