諺語 · a single proverb
子不嫌母醜，狗不嫌家貧
Simplified: 子不嫌母丑，狗不嫌家贫
What does 子不嫌母醜，狗不嫌家貧 (zǐ bù xián mǔ chǒu, gǒu bù xián jiā pín) mean?
子不嫌母醜，狗不嫌家貧 (zǐ bù xián mǔ chǒu, gǒu bù xián jiā pín) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "A child does not despise an ugly mother; a dog does not despise a poor home." In use it means: The bond between child and parent transcends appearance and material wealth. True familial love is unconditional and does not depend on external circumstances. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Earth note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Dog.
Literally: "A child does not despise an ugly mother; a dog does not despise a poor home.."
The reading
The child who is ashamed of a poor mother has already lost something more valuable than money. Loyalty to family is not a burden but a compass. The home that sheltered you does not owe you beauty or wealth. What you were given first, before you could judge it, remains the truest gift.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional folk proverb, recorded in various Míng Dynasty collections
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 Dog, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 子不嫌母醜，狗不嫌家貧 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 子不嫌母醜，狗不嫌家貧 (zǐ bù xián mǔ chǒu, gǒu bù xián jiā pín) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional folk proverb, recorded in various Míng Dynasty collections. 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 子不嫌母醜，狗不嫌家貧?
In Mandarin it is zǐ bù xián mǔ chǒu, gǒu bù xián jiā pín. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 子不嫌母醜，狗不嫌家貧 aloud in Mandarin.