早zǎo起qǐ的de鳥niǎo兒ér有yǒu蟲chóng吃chī

What does 早起的鳥兒有蟲吃 (zǎo qǐ de niǎo ér yǒu chóng chī) mean?

早起的鳥兒有蟲吃 (zǎo qǐ de niǎo ér yǒu chóng chī) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "the early rising bird has worms to eat." In use it means: The early bird catches the worm; those who start first gain advantage. 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: "the early rising bird has worms to eat."

The reading

The worm is not saved until a bird worth catching it comes along, and the bird that is still in the nest when the field is active will find the field already picked over. Being early is not being desperate but being aligned with the natural rhythm of when things become available, which is usually earlier than the comfortable schedule allows.

What kind of proverb it is

• Typeyànyǔ 諺語
• FocusPresent-minded
• Element木 Wood
• Zodiac tie雞 Year of the Rooster

Source Traditional Chinese folk proverb (suyu)

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.