Chinese idioms about co-operation
Our proverbs come with full information. The modern Chinese characters are given first with links that give information on the character. As proverbs are so old you will often see them written using the traditional form of characters; so if some of the characters have been simplified the traditional form is shown in brackets and gray text. The characters are followed by the proverb (normally a 成语 chéng yǔ) in pinyin. Next, there is a crude character by character transliteration into English, followed by a more accurate English translation. If this is a Chinese proverb alluding to history the meaning may still not be clear in English, so the general meaning follows. Finally some proverbs have fairly direct English equivalents, if so the English proverb is shown.
For background on the types and history of proverbs please see our guide.
Working together in harmony and co-operation will get everything done quicker and better … but sometimes it can be a strain getting along with everybody. This is part of our extensive set of proverbs and sayings.
八仙过海,各显神通 [八仙過海各顯神通]
The Eight Immortals crossing the sea all have there own particular skills
Everyone has their own special skills to contribute.
八字没一撇 [八字沒一撇]
The character for eight takes two strokes to write not just one
You can't do everything on your own.
Roughly equivalent to: It takes two to Tango.
藏龙卧虎 [藏龍臥虎]
Hidden dragon, crouching tiger
There are often people around with great power and skill.
独木不成林,单弦不成音 [獨木不成林單弦不成音]
A single tree does not make a forest; a single string can not make music
Many things require people to work together to achieve an end.
Roughly equivalent to: All pull together.
独木难支 [獨木難支]
A single stick will not prop up a whole building
It often requires more than one person to resolve problems.
Roughly equivalent to: Two heads are better than one.
风雨同舟 [風雨同舟]
In the same boat in a storm
Facing troubles together.
Roughly equivalent to: A trouble shared is a trouble halved.
覆巢无完卵 [覆巢無完卵]
When the nest is overturned, no egg is left unbroken
In a disaster everyone will feel the consequences. Failure will affect everyone involved.
孤掌难鸣 [孤掌難鳴]
You can not clap with just one hand
It is difficult to achieve anything on your own.
Roughly equivalent to: It takes two to Tango.
龙争虎斗 [龍爭虎斗]
Bitter fight between a dragon and tiger. An evenly matched big fight
Struggle between two equal leaders.
三个臭皮匠,凑个诸葛亮 [三個臭皮匠湊個諸葛亮]
Three humble shoemakers brainstorming make a great statesman like Zhuge Liang ➚
Joint effort can help solve big problems.
Roughly equivalent to: Two heads are better than one.
三人成虎
It only takes three people to confirm a sighting of a tiger.
A rumour can build up to a mighty story when only a handful confirm it. Basing a story on rumor and gossip rather than hard facts.
杀一儆百 [殺一儆百]
Kill one to warn a hundred
To warn many people by punishing a few. Making example punishments.
树倒猢狲散 [樹倒猢猻散]
When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter
When a leader loses power, his followers are disorganized and also lose power. Often said to warn someone that they hold their position only so long as their patron is in power.
水能载舟,亦能覆舟 [水能載舟亦能覆舟]
Not only does water float a boat, it can sink it too
Events and people can have both positive and negative influences.
雪里送炭
Send charcoal in a snow storm
To offer assistance when it is needed.
Roughly equivalent to: A friend in need is a friend indeed.
一个和尚挑水喝,两个和尚抬水喝,三个和尚没水喝 [一個和尚挑水喝兩個和尚抬水喝三個和尚沒水喝]
One monk shoulders water by himself; two can still share the labor between them. When it comes to three, they all go thirsty.
Sometimes work is best done alone, a group may procrastinate without achieving anything.
Roughly equivalent to: Too many cooks spoil the broth.
一山不容二虎
Two tigers cannot share one mountain
Two equally talented or able employees do not work well together.
一只蜂酿不成蜜一颗米熬不成粥 [一只蜂釀不成蜜一顆米熬不成粥]
One bee cannot produce honey; one grain of rice cannot produce a meal
It needs joint effort to achieve anything worthwhile.
Roughly equivalent to: Many hands make light work.
众人拾柴火焰高 [眾人拾柴火焰高]
Only when all contribute their firewood can they build up a big fire
People need to pull together to achieve something significant.
Roughly equivalent to: Many hands make light work.
唇亡齿寒 [唇亡齒寒]
Without lips the teeth feel the cold
Two interdependent things or people. The story of is of an attack on two kingdoms, as they were so mutually dependent the fall of one led directly to the fall of the other.
普天同庆 [普天同慶]
Everyone in celebration
The whole nation is rejoicing at some happy event.
郢书燕说 [郢書燕說]
Ying's letter interpreted by Yan
The message has been misunderstood. The story is that someone living in Ying in the Chu kingdom dictated a letter to a friend, the Prime Minister of Yan kingdom. Inadvertently the secretary wrote down 'Raise the lantern' thinking it was part of the letter. The recipient interpreted this to mean he should appoint praiseworthy people to the government. So in this case the misunderstanding gave rise to benefit.
Roughly equivalent to: Get hold of the wrong end of the stick.
上下其手
To raise and lower the hand
A conspiracy is at work. A deft gesture signaling important information. The story is that back in the Spring and Autumn period two soldiers both claimed to have captured a prince and demanded their reward. When Bo Zhouli arbitrated he used a hand gesture to signal who he wished to receive the money.
麻雀虽小,五脏俱全 [麻雀雖小五臟俱全]
Small as it is, the sparrow has all the vital organs
A person is a person regardless of size. Complete in every detail.
取长补短 [取長補短]
Learn from other's good points to offset your own shortcomings
Take notice of other people's admirable qualities.
杀鸡给猴看 [殺雞給猴看]
Kill a chicken before a monkey. The monkey can then take the message as a warning
To punish somebody as a lesson and warning to others.
一丘之貉
Raccoons of the same mound
People of the same bad character. Referring to people of similar ill repute who tend to behave the same way.
Roughly equivalent to: Birds of a feather flock together.
破镜重圆 [破鏡重圓]
A broken mirror remade
A reunion after a couple are separated or patching up after a quarrel. There are several legends in China about a couple who on separation each took one half of a mirror (which used to be of bronze) and when they eventually they are reunited they found each other by matching up the two halves of the mirror.
一衣带水 [一衣帶水]
Separated by a narrow ditch
Close neighbors. Located physically (or emotionally) close together with very little to separate.
Roughly equivalent to: Cheek by jowl.
约法三章 [約法三章]
Setting out the three articles of law
Imposing simple and clear laws. At the end of the bitter Civil War that brought the Qin dynasty to an end in 206BCE, the leader Liu Bang chose to dispose of all the laws of the Qin, replacing them with three simple laws: do not kill; do not harm and do not steal. Liu Bang went on to found the Han dynasty that ruled for 400 years.
嫁祸于人 [嫁旤于人]
A person in misfortune blames someone else
Spread blame onto others.
多多益善
The more, the better
Safety in numbers. Wanting to invite as many people as possible to improve chances of success.
Roughly equivalent to: Many hands make light work.
各自为政 [各自為政]
Each following his own policy
Acting selfishly. Following own plans and ideas with no regard for others.
解衣推食
Sharing garments and food
Sharing clothes and food with someone in need. To treat with great kindness and consideration.
糟糠之妻
A wife of chaff-eating days
A loyal wife. Chaff is only eaten when no other food is available and so it means someone who is prepared to share in depredations - sharing the bad times as well as the good.
Roughly equivalent to: Through thick and thin.
休戚相关 [休戚相關]
Share both joys and sorrows
People with close ties and shared interests, Mutual dependency.
Roughly equivalent to: Common ground.
从善如流 [從善如流]
Following good advice just as water flows
Willing to accept other people's advice just as all water in a stream follows the flow. Readily following good leadership.
Roughly equivalent to: Following the flow.
其貌不扬 [其貌不揚]
Undistinguished in appearance
Unappealing appearance.
Roughly equivalent to: Plain Jane.