諺語 · a single proverb
魚目混珠
Simplified: 鱼目混珠
What does 魚目混珠 (yú mù hùn zhū) mean?
魚目混珠 (yú mù hùn zhū) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "passing off fish eyes as pearls." In use it means: Substituting something inferior for the genuine article; deception that relies on superficial resemblance. 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 Snake.
Literally: "passing off fish eyes as pearls."
The reading
At a glance, they look the same. Round, smooth, roughly the right color. But hold one to the light and the difference is immediate. The counterfeit relies on speed: it works only when no one pauses long enough to look closely. Quality is what survives the second glance.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Lü Shi Chunqiu 呂氏春秋 tradition; common literary idiom
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 Wisdom & Learning, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Snake, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 魚目混珠 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 魚目混珠 (yú mù hùn zhū) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Lü Shi Chunqiu 呂氏春秋 tradition; common literary idiom. 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 魚目混珠?
In Mandarin it is yú mù hùn zhū. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 魚目混珠 aloud in Mandarin.