諺語 · a single proverb
一年之計在於春，一日之計在於晨
Simplified: 一年之计在于春，一日之计在于晨
What does 一年之計在於春，一日之計在於晨 (yī nián zhī jì zài yú chūn, yī rì zhī jì zài yú chén) mean?
一年之計在於春，一日之計在於晨 (yī nián zhī jì zài yú chūn, yī rì zhī jì zài yú chén) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "a year's plan rests in spring; a day's plan rests in the morning." In use it means: Begin at the beginning: the whole shape of a year or a day is set by what you do at its first hour. 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 Rabbit.
Literally: "a year's plan rests in spring; a day's plan rests in the morning."
The reading
Whatever the year becomes is decided in the thaw, and whatever the day becomes is decided before you are fully awake. The opening moment is doing quiet, permanent work while you think nothing has started yet, so plant early.
The story
This is a folk proverb recorded in the Zengguang Xianwen and echoing the Liang-dynasty Zuanyao: a year's plan rests in spring, a day's plan in the morning. Its image is the opening moment doing quiet, permanent work while you think nothing has begun, and it is used to urge an early start on whatever you mean a season or a day to become.
Whatever you want the year or the day to hold is being decided at its first hour, before you feel fully underway. Plant early, put the important thing into the morning and the season's real work into its opening weeks, because the beginning is quietly setting the shape.
What kind of proverb it is
Source folk proverb; recorded in 《增廣賢文》, echoing the Liang-dynasty 《纂要》
Sits beside
聞雞起舞
wén jī qǐ wǔ
To wake at the first crow and begin, a diligence that starts before the day asks for it.
千里之行，始於足下
qiān lǐ zhī xíng shǐ yú zú xià
Every great undertaking starts with a single step.
機不可失，時不再來
jī bù kě shī, shí bù zài lái
Seize the opportunity now, for the same hour will never return.
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 Nature, Seasons & Health, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Rabbit, Year of the Rooster, Year of the Snake, and Year of the Horse.
Questions
Is 一年之計在於春，一日之計在於晨 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 一年之計在於春，一日之計在於晨 (yī nián zhī jì zài yú chūn, yī rì zhī jì zài yú chén) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from folk proverb; recorded in 《增廣賢文》, echoing the Liang-dynasty 《纂要》. 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 一年之計在於春，一日之計在於晨?
In Mandarin it is yī nián zhī jì zài yú chūn, yī rì zhī jì zài yú chén. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 一年之計在於春，一日之計在於晨 aloud in Mandarin.