諺語 · a single proverb
張飛穿針——粗中有細
Simplified: 张飞穿针——粗中有细
What does 張飛穿針——粗中有細 (zhāng fēi chuān zhēn——cū zhōng yǒu xì) mean?
張飛穿針——粗中有細 (zhāng fēi chuān zhēn——cū zhōng yǒu xì) is a two-part riddle-saying (xiēhòuyǔ 歇後語). Word for word it reads "Zhang Fei threading a needle-roughness concealing delicacy." In use it means: Appearances can deceive. Even a famously fierce warrior like Zhang Fei can possess unexpected finesse and attention to detail. 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 Tiger.
Literally: "Zhang Fei threading a needle-roughness concealing delicacy.."
The reading
The loud exterior can hide a careful mind, just as calm waters may run over jagged stone. We sort people into categories too quickly and then stop looking. True perception means staying curious past the first impression. Strength and subtlety are not opposites; they often share the same hand. The needle does not care who holds it, only that the grip is steady.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Historical xiehouyu based on Three Kingdoms figure Zhang Fei
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 Tiger, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 張飛穿針——粗中有細 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 張飛穿針——粗中有細 (zhāng fēi chuān zhēn——cū zhōng yǒu xì) is a two-part riddle-saying (xiēhòuyǔ 歇後語), and it comes from Historical xiehouyu based on Three Kingdoms figure Zhang Fei. 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 張飛穿針——粗中有細?
In Mandarin it is zhāng fēi chuān zhēn——cū zhōng yǒu xì. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 張飛穿針——粗中有細 aloud in Mandarin.