諺語 · a single proverb
胸有成竹
What does 胸有成竹 (xiōng yǒu chéng zhú) mean?
胸有成竹 (xiōng yǒu chéng zhú) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "chest contains fully-formed bamboo." In use it means: Have a well-thought-out plan; confident and well-prepared with a clear mind. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Wood note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Snake.
Literally: "chest contains fully-formed bamboo."
The reading
The painter Wen Tong studied bamboo in all its seasons until he could see the whole plant in his mind before the brush touched the paper. The chest that holds a completed bamboo needs no reference in the moment of painting: the bamboo is already there, waiting only for the hand to release it. This is the confidence of the thoroughly prepared.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Su Shi 蘇軾·《文與可畫筼筜谷偃竹記》 (Wén Yǔ Kě Huà Yùn Dāng Gǔ Yǎn Zhú Jì)
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 Snake, Year of the Frog, and Year of the Rat.
Questions
Is 胸有成竹 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 胸有成竹 (xiōng yǒu chéng zhú) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Su Shi 蘇軾·《文與可畫筼筜谷偃竹記》 (Wén Yǔ Kě Huà Yùn Dāng Gǔ Yǎn Zhú Jì). 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 胸有成竹?
In Mandarin it is xiōng yǒu chéng zhú. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 胸有成竹 aloud in Mandarin.