諺語 · a single proverb

虎hǔ頭tóu蛇shé尾wěi

hǔ tóu shé wěi

What does 虎頭蛇尾 (hǔ tóu shé wěi) mean?

虎頭蛇尾 (hǔ tóu shé wěi) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "tiger head, snake tail." In use it means: A strong start and a weak finish; beginning boldly but ending feebly. 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: "tiger head, snake tail."

The reading

The tiger's head is magnificent and the snake's tail is not, and the thing that promises one and delivers the other has done something worse than simply starting badly. The loss of the grand opening is compounded by the reminder of what was originally promised. Finish what you began with the same quality you brought at the start.

What kind of proverb it is

Source Yuan Dynasty 元·康進之《李逵負荊》 (Lǐ Kuí Fù Jīng, play)

Sits beside

冰非一日之寒

bīng fēi yī rì zhī hán

Nothing reaches its current state overnight.

少壯不努力，老大徒傷悲

shào zhuàng bù nǔ lì lǎo dà tú shāng bēi

Those who do not work hard in youth can only grieve in old age.

日積月累

rì jī yuè lěi

Through daily and monthly accumulation, great things are built.

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 Perseverance & the Long Road, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Tiger, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.

Questions

Is 虎頭蛇尾 a real Chinese proverb?

Yes. 虎頭蛇尾 (hǔ tóu shé wěi) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Yuan Dynasty 元·康進之《李逵負荊》 (Lǐ Kuí Fù Jīng, play). 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 虎頭蛇尾?

In Mandarin it is hǔ tóu shé wěi. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 虎頭蛇尾 aloud in Mandarin.