諺語 · a single proverb
種樹前人，乘涼後人
Simplified: 种树前人，乘凉后人
What does 種樹前人，乘涼後人 (zhǒng shù qián rén, chéng liáng hòu rén) mean?
種樹前人，乘涼後人 (zhǒng shù qián rén, chéng liáng hòu rén) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "the earlier generation plants the trees, the later generation enjoys the shade." In use it means: Long-term investments benefit future generations, not the ones who made the sacrifice. 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 Ox.
Literally: "the earlier generation plants the trees, the later generation enjoys the shade."
The reading
The person who planted the tree will never sit in its shade. They know this. They plant it anyway. Because the shade matters more than who gets to use it. Every generation inherits shade from trees it did not plant and owes trees to generations it will never meet. The question is whether you are planting.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Common folk proverb; widely quoted in Chinese culture
Sits beside
外甥打燈籠——照舅（照舊）
wài shēng dǎ dēng long——zhào jiù (zhào jiù)
A pun on 照舅 (illuminating the uncle) and 照舊 (as before).
家有黃金，不如有個好鄰居
jiā yǒu huáng jīn bù rú yǒu gè hǎo lín jū
A good neighbor is worth more than household gold.
龍生龍，鳳生鳳，老鼠生的兒子會打洞
lóng shēng lóng, fèng shēng fèng, lǎo shǔ shēng de ér zi huì dǎ dòng
Children tend to inherit or follow the traits and social standing of their parents.
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 Home, Family & Roots, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Ox, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Tiger.
Questions
Is 種樹前人，乘涼後人 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 種樹前人，乘涼後人 (zhǒng shù qián rén, chéng liáng hòu rén) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Common folk proverb; widely quoted in Chinese culture. 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 種樹前人，乘涼後人?
In Mandarin it is zhǒng shù qián rén, chéng liáng hòu rén. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 種樹前人，乘涼後人 aloud in Mandarin.