Sounds familiar? Learn Chinese from 8 proverbs

A single conversation across the table with a wise person is worth a month's study of books.

听君一席话，胜读十年书。

tīng jūn yī xí huà, shèng dú shí nián shū.

Better to be deprived of food for three days than tea for one.

宁可三日无粮，不可一日无茶。

níng kě sān rì wú liáng, bú kě yī rì wú chá.

With true friends… even water drunk together is sweet enough.

君子之交淡如水。

Jūnzi zhī jiāo dàn rú shuǐ.

In bed be wife and husband, in the hall each other's honored guest.

夫妻相敬如宾。

fū qī xiàng jìng rú bīn.

A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.

不鸣则已，一鸣惊人。

bú míng zé yǐ, yī míng jīng rén.

You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair.

你无法阻止鸟儿在你的头顶飞翔，但你可以阻止它们在你的头发上做窝。

nǐ wú fǎ zǔ zhǐ niǎo ér zài nǐ de tóu dǐng fēi xiáng, dàn nǐ kě yǐ zǔ zhǐ tā men zài nǐ de tóu fā shàng zuò wō.

If you want your dinner, don't insult the cook.

想吃饭的话，就别惹厨子。

xiǎng chī fàn de huà, jiù bié rě chúzi.

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. – Confucius

我听、我忘；我看、我记；我做、我懂。

wǒ tīng, wǒ wàn; wǒ kàn, wǒ jì; wǒ zuò, wǒ dǒng.

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