諺語 · a single proverb
一日之計在於晨
Simplified: 一日之计在于晨
What does 一日之計在於晨 (yī rì zhī jì zài yú chén) mean?
一日之計在於晨 (yī rì zhī jì zài yú chén) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "a day's plan lies in the morning." In use it means: Plan the day in the morning; the early hours are the most important for setting the day's direction. 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 Rooster.
Literally: "a day's plan lies in the morning."
The reading
The morning is not merely early; it is when the day has not yet become anything in particular, when it is still available, still open to being shaped. The hour before the world's claims arrive is the one where intention can be set before the current takes over. What is planned in stillness holds through the noise.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Northern Qi Dynasty 北齊·顏之推《顏氏家訓》 (Yán Shì Jiā Xùn, Yanshi Family Instructions)
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 Wealth, Work & Diligence, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Rooster, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 一日之計在於晨 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 一日之計在於晨 (yī rì zhī jì zài yú chén) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Northern Qi Dynasty 北齊·顏之推《顏氏家訓》 (Yán Shì Jiā Xùn, Yanshi Family Instructions). 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 一日之計在於晨?
In Mandarin it is 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 一日之計在於晨 aloud in Mandarin.