諺語 · a single proverb
時來運轉
What does 時來運轉 (shí lái yùn zhuǎn) mean?
時來運轉 (shí lái yùn zhuǎn) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "when time comes, fortune turns." In use it means: When the right time arrives, fortune changes; luck turns at the appointed moment. 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: "when time comes, fortune turns."
The reading
The wheel of fortune is not indifferent; it has its own timing, and the person who has prepared well during the turn away will be positioned when the turn comes back. The waiting is not idle but the patient accumulation of what will be needed when the wheel faces forward again. The timing is not yours, but the readiness is.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional Chinese folk expression (common in theatrical and folk culture)
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 Timing & Fortune's Turning, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Dragon, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 時來運轉 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 時來運轉 (shí lái yùn zhuǎn) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese folk expression (common in theatrical and folk culture). 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 時來運轉?
In Mandarin it is shí lái yùn zhuǎn. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 時來運轉 aloud in Mandarin.