諺語 · a single proverb
惡有惡報，善有善報
Simplified: 恶有恶报，善有善报
What does 惡有惡報，善有善報 (è yǒu è bào shàn yǒu shàn bào) mean?
惡有惡報，善有善報 (è yǒu è bào shàn yǒu shàn bào) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "evil receives evil repayment; good receives good repayment." In use it means: Actions have consequences; what you put into the world comes back to you. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Earth note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Pig.
Literally: "evil receives evil repayment; good receives good repayment."
The reading
The universe keeps a ledger. It does not use the same calendar you do, so the timing feels random. But the pattern holds: the thing you repeatedly do is the thing that repeatedly returns. Choose what you want more of.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Buddhist-influenced folk proverb; common Chinese moral teaching
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 Harmony, Virtue & Balance, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Pig, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 惡有惡報，善有善報 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 惡有惡報，善有善報 (è yǒu è bào shàn yǒu shàn bào) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Buddhist-influenced folk proverb; common Chinese moral teaching. 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 惡有惡報，善有善報?
In Mandarin it is è yǒu è bào shàn yǒu shàn bào. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 惡有惡報，善有善報 aloud in Mandarin.