9 Funny Chinese Proverbs That’ll Brighten Your Day [Guide]

You can't really speak Chinese until you know the proverbs.

I'm serious. You can nail the tones, memorize a thousand characters, and still miss half of what's actually being said. Because when your Chinese friend drops a four-character saying into conversation and everyone laughs, you're just sitting there like "...what?" That's the proverb gap, and it's real.

In this guide, I'll let you in on all the funny Chinese proverbs that’ll brighten your day, plus classics about education, success, life, and friendship. We'll cover what they mean, when to use them, and why they're worth knowing.

Funny Chinese Proverbs

天花乱坠 (tiān huā luàn zhuì)

Literal meaning: Flowers falling chaotically from the sky

This Chinese proverb describes speech that sounds impressive but is ultimately empty. Just as flowers falling from the sky would be beautiful yet meaningless, words can be decorative without substance. It is often used to criticize people who talk at length but fail to convey useful ideas.

骑驴找马 (qí lǘ zhǎo mǎ)

Literal meaning: Riding a donkey while looking for a horse

This proverb reflects the idea of using what you currently have while seeking something better. The donkey represents a temporary or less ideal solution, while the horse symbolizes an upgrade. It conveys practicality rather than impatience, showing acceptance of the present while striving for improvement.

落汤鸡 (luòtāngjī)

Literal meaning: A chicken that fell in soup

This Chinese proverb paints the image of a chicken completely drenched and pathetic in appearance. It refers to a person who is soaked through and disheveled, usually after heavy rain or misfortune. The vivid imagery emphasizes helplessness and discomfort.

画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú) 

Literal meaning: Drawing a snake and adding feet

Snakes naturally have no feet, so adding them ruins the drawing. This proverb is a warning against unnecessary additions that spoil something already complete. It highlights the danger of overcomplicating or overdoing tasks, reminding learners that restraint can preserve balance and effectiveness.

你皮子痒! (nǐ pí zi yǎng!) 

Literal meaning: Your skin is itchy!

This is a playful proverb used to scold someone who is deliberately provoking trouble. The expression suggests that if your skin is itchy, you must be inviting someone to scratch it—figuratively, by punishing your behavior. It shows how language can turn irritation into a humorous warning.

脑袋进水 (nǎo dài jìn shuǐ)

Literal meaning: Water entered your brain

This proverb implies foolishness or irrational thinking, as if one’s mind has been clouded or damaged by water. It is often used casually among friends to point out silly mistakes or unwise decisions. The phrase captures how vividly Chinese proverbs connect physical images to states of mind.

脱裤子放屁 (tuō kùzi fàng pì)

Literal meaning: Taking off your pants to fart

This humorous Chinese proverb criticizes people who make simple matters unnecessarily complex. Since farting requires no effort, the act of removing one’s pants first highlights pointless complication. It conveys frustration with inefficiency and emphasizes the value of simplicity in action.

猴子捞月 (hóu zi lāo yuè) 

Literal meaning: A monkey fishing for the moon

This proverb describes the futility of chasing illusions or impossible goals. Monkeys trying to scoop the moon’s reflection from water are bound to fail, just as humans sometimes waste effort on unattainable desires. It highlights the importance of recognizing reality and avoiding hopeless pursuits.

肉包子打狗 (ròu bāo zi dǎ gǒu) 

Literal meaning: Throwing meat buns at a dog

Once a meat bun is thrown to a dog, it will be eaten and gone forever. This Chinese proverb symbolizes giving something valuable without hope of return, whether it be money, time, or effort. It serves as a caution against wasting resources on those who will not repay or appreciate them.

Other Chinese Proverbs

Chinese Proverbs About Education

Education has always been central to Chinese culture, shaped by Confucian ideals and respect for lifelong learning. These Chinese proverbs and sayings highlight the belief that knowledge is a continuous journey. They emphasize not only acquiring wisdom, but also applying it in life and respecting those we learn from.

• 授人以鱼不如授人以渔 (shòu rén yǐ yú bùrú shòu rén yǐ yú) — "Give a man a fish and you feed him for one day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."
• 活到老，学到老 (huó dào lǎo, xué dào lǎo) — "Live until you're old, study until you're old."
• 学如登山 (xué rú dēng shān) — "Studying is like climbing a mountain."
• 三人行，必有我师 (sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī) — "In a group of three people, there will always be one person I can learn from."

Chinese Proverbs About Success

Chinese sayings about success reflect perseverance, discipline, and determination. These Chinese proverbs embody the belief that effort and patience can overcome obstacles, and that even students may surpass their teachers through diligence. They remind us that achievement is not luck, but persistence.

• 世上无难事，只怕有心人 (shì shàng wú nán shì, zhǐ pà yǒu xīn rén) — "Nothing in the world is difficult for one who is determined enough to achieve it."
• 青出于蓝而胜于蓝 (qīng chū yú lán ér shèng yú lán) — "Indigo blue is extracted from the indigo plant but is bluer than the plant it comes from"—students surpass their teachers.
• 严师出高徒 (yán shī chū gāo tú) — "Strict teachers produce brilliant students."

Chinese Proverbs About Life

Life is a central theme in many Chinese beliefs and philosophies, especially in Confucian and Daoist traditions. These Chinese proverbs express wisdom about growth, travel, reflection, and applying knowledge. They show how life is seen as an endless process of learning and adaptation.

• 学无止境 (xué wú zhǐ jìng) — "Learning is limitless."
• 读万卷书不如行万里路 (dú wàn juǎn shū bùrú xíng wàn lǐ lù) — "Reading ten thousand books is not as good as walking a thousand miles."
• 温故而知新 (wēn gù ér zhī xīn) — "Studying the past helps to understand the present."
• 学以致用 (xué yǐ zhì yòng) — "To put into practice what has been learned."

Chinese Proverbs About Friends

Friendship is highly valued in Chinese culture, reflecting ideas of loyalty, trust, and shared hardship. These Chinese sayings and proverbs highlight the belief that true friendship is tested over time and circumstances. They offer timeless lessons on how to treasure, test, and accept relationships.

• 有福同享，有难同当 (yǒu fú tóng xiǎng, yǒu nàn tóng dāng) — "Share blessings and hardships alike."
• 天下没有不散的筵席 (tiān xià méi yǒu bù sàn de yán xí) — "All good things must come to an end," literally, “there’s no banquet in the world that doesn’t disperse.”
• 路遥知马力，日久见人心 (lù yáo zhī mǎ lì, rì jiǔ jiàn rén xīn) — "Distance tests a horse's strength, time reveals a person's heart."

Why Learn Chinese Proverbs When Learning Chinese?

Chinese proverbs are short, memorable expressions that carry deep meaning. Learning them gives you more than just vocabulary—it gives you access to Chinese beliefs, culture, and ways of thinking. Because proverbs are vivid and rhythmic, they’re easier to remember and use in daily conversation. They also help you understand the words people use and the cultural values behind them, making your Chinese sound more authentic and natural.

You’ll also notice that Chinese proverbs appear often in daily life and media. They’re common in conversations, business settings, and especially in Chinese dramas, where characters use them to add wit, wisdom, or emotion in just a few words.

Where To Learn Chinese Proverbs

Learning Chinese proverbs doesn’t have to come only from textbooks. The best way to absorb them is by seeing and hearing how native speakers actually use them. You can find proverbs in Chinese dramas, movies, and everyday conversations, which makes them much easier to remember in context.

Platforms like Lingopie are especially useful because they let you watch Chinese shows with interactive subtitles—so when a proverb appears, you can pause, read the translation, and even add it to your vocabulary practice.

Other helpful sources include language learning blogs, cultural websites, and collections of Chinese sayings dedicated to themes like education, life, and friendship.

But pairing study with real media (whether through Lingopie, YouTube, or podcasts) ensures you don’t just memorize the words, but also understand the tone, humor, and culture that give these Chinese proverbs their power.

Learn Chinese Proverbs With Lingopie

Chinese proverbs are short, practical sayings that carry cultural meaning. Learning them gives you more than just new vocabulary—it helps you understand how Chinese speakers express ideas about life, success, education, and friendship. They are part of daily language, and knowing them makes conversations easier to follow and more natural to join.

With Lingopie, you can watch Chinese dramas and shows with interactive subtitles, which means you see proverbs in the same way native speakers use them. Instead of memorizing lists, you hear the tone, context, and emotion that bring each saying to life. This makes it easier to remember and apply these proverbs in your own Chinese learning.

Try Lingopie today by clicking below!