Chinese proverbs are short sayings (usually four characters) that summarize a story that teaches a moral or offers a glimpse into the human condition. The stories are very well known in China, and most people understand the meaning of the proverbs without any further explanation.

Besides their insight into human nature, Chinese proverbs are a good resource for Mandarin students to learn new vocabulary.

Since these proverbs are so widely used, anyone visiting or living in a Chinese-speaking country is sure to hear them on a daily basis.

This particular proverb is about a beautiful young girl who has to choose between two suitors. It is presented in traditional Chinese characters, simplified Chinese characters, Pinyin romanization, and finally in an English translation.

Traditional Chinese Characters

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???, ???????????, ?????????, ????? : ???????????, ?????????? ? ??????,????????????????, ??? : ????????, ??????????????; ?????????????

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???: ???????, ??????, ???????, ????????

Simplified Chinese Characters

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???, ???????, ??????,???????????????????, ????????????????! ?????????,????, ??????,??????????

???, ???????????, ?????????, ????? : ???????????, ?????????? ? ??????,????????????????, ??? : ????????, ??????????????; ?????????????

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Pinyin Romanization

dong shí xi sù

qí you yi nu liang jia qiú zhi qí jia yu nu yue yù dong jia jí zuo tan yù xi jia jí yòu tan qí nu liang tan yue yuàn dong jia shí ér xi jia sù yi dong jia fù ér chou xi jia pín ér mei ye.

zhàn guó shí , qí guóyou yigè nuzi , sheng dé shífen meilì ,fùmu ài ta rú zhang shàng míng zhu ?ta jia fùjìn zhù zháo liang jiarén , dong jia shì ?wèi dà cáizhu keshì xiàngmào sheng dé chou guài ! xi jia zhù zháo yigè dúshurén ,hen you cáixué , xiàngmào ye hen yingjùn ,dàn jia tú sì bì shífen pínku.

you yitian , dongxi liang jia tóngshí qing rén láishuo méi , ta de fùmu wúfa xià juédìng , yúshì wèn ta shuo : ?xiànzài dongxi liang jia doulái qiúhun , ni zìji xihuan na yi jia ne ? ? nuzi jiao xiu wànfen ,yi yu bù fa ?fùmu yi ta hàixiu nán yú qi chi , yúshì shuo : ?jìrán ni bù gan kaikou , nàme ni rúguo xihuan dong jia jiù juqi zuo shou ; rúguo xihuan xi jia jiù juqi yòushou.?

jiéguo nà nuzi ba liang zhi shou dou juqi lái . ta de fùmu dà yì , wèn dào :?zhè shì shénme yìsi??

ta dá shuo : ?dong jiarén fù ér chou , xi jiarén pín ér mei , wo yuàn jià dào dong jia shí , yòu jià dào xi jia sù.?

English Translation

dong shí xi sù - East Eat West Sleep

A long time ago there was a beautiful girl, whom her parents adored. As she was of an age to get married, there came two suitors. From the east came a very wealthy man, but he was very ugly. From the west came a handsome studious man, but he was very poor.

The girl was asked which of the two men she preferred. She was very shy and did not want to say anything.

So her parents told her, "Raise your right hand if you prefer the man from the west, or raise your left hand if you prefer the man from the east."

The girl raised both hands.

The parents asked her why, and the girl replied, "I can go to the east for food and clothing, and I can go to the west for sleeping."

Dong shí xi sù is said when commenting on greedy people.