諺語 · a single proverb
助人為樂
Simplified: 助人为乐
What does 助人為樂 (zhù rén wéi lè) mean?
助人為樂 (zhù rén wéi lè) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "helping people as joy." In use it means: Find happiness in helping others. 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 Pig.
Literally: "helping people as joy."
The reading
The gift given without expectation of return carries a strange warmth that lingers longer than the giving. Those who seek their own joy by feeding another's need discover a source that does not empty. The well of generosity is one of the few that refills itself from the act of drawing.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional Chinese folk proverb (yanyu)
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 Harmony, Virtue & Balance, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Pig, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 助人為樂 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 助人為樂 (zhù rén wéi lè) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese folk proverb (yanyu). 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 助人為樂?
In Mandarin it is zhù rén wéi lè. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 助人為樂 aloud in Mandarin.