諺語 · a single proverb
一人做事一人當
Simplified: 一人做事一人当
What does 一人做事一人當 (yī rén zuò shì yī rén dāng) mean?
一人做事一人當 (yī rén zuò shì yī rén dāng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "one person does the matter, one person takes responsibility." In use it means: Whoever does something must take responsibility for it; stand up for what you've done. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Rooster.
Literally: "one person does the matter, one person takes responsibility."
The reading
The act and its responsibility belong to the same person and cannot be separated by clever argument or convenient amnesia. To act and then step back from the consequence is a form of theft from the social fabric that holds everyone together. What you do is yours; let that be a reason to act carefully and own it completely.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional Chinese folk proverb (common in folk and literary contexts)
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 Courage & Decisive Action, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Rooster, Year of the Ox, and Year of the Tiger.
Questions
Is 一人做事一人當 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 一人做事一人當 (yī rén zuò shì yī rén dāng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese folk proverb (common in folk and literary contexts). 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 一人做事一人當?
In Mandarin it is yī rén zuò shì yī rén dāng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 一人做事一人當 aloud in Mandarin.