| Positive phrases that make us visualize success are the foundation of morale. In Chinese, there are many old sayings to encourage others to continue despite (or because of) the trials of life. Here is a great collection of Chinese sayings and idioms about encouragement with Chinese characters, pinyin pronunciation and English translation and explanations. It will help you to learn and enjoy Chinese language while understanding Chinese people’s attitude and values more deeply.  1. 冰冻三尺，非一日之寒。 (Bīngdòng sān chǐ, fēi yīrì zhī hán) [3 chi = 1 meter] — It takes more than one cold day for a river to freeze a meter deep. This means: "Rome wasn't built in a day." I.e. If you keep working, you'll achieve your goal. 2. 人心齐，泰山移。 (Rénxīn qí, Tàishān yí) — When people work with one heart, they can even move Mount Tai. 3. 万事开头难。 (Wànshì kāitóu nán) — All things are difficult at the start. I.e. Things always get easier if you persevere. 4. 失败是成功之母。 (Shībài shì chénggōng zhī mǔ) — Failure is the mother of success. 5. 水滴石穿，绳锯木断。 (Shuǐ dī shí chuān, shéng jù mù duàn) — Water drops pierce stone; rope saws cut wood. Patience and persistence can break through anything, no matter how great the difficulty. Similar to Ovid's "Dripping water hollows out stone, not through force but through persistence." 6. 一日之计在于晨。 (Yīrì zhī jì zàiyú chén) — A day's planning is done at dawn. I.e. make your plans early, or get up early, as this will affect the whole day/undertaking. 7. 老骥伏枥，志在千里。 (Lǎojì fúlì, zhì zài qiānlǐ) [1,000 li = 500 km] — An old warhorse in the stable still longs to gallop a thousand li. This describes one who still cherishes high aspirations in spite of age. Or: "You're never too old to live your dream." 8. 先到先得。 (Xiān dào xiān dé) — The first to arrive is the first to succeed. 9. 吃一堑，长一智。 (Chī yīqiàn, zhǎng yízhì) — Suffer a moat, grow in wisdom. Having gone through a setback, one will have gained experience and wisdom, which will be useful if only one can take warning and learn something from the setback. "A fall in a pit, a gain in your wit." 10. 星星之火，可以燎原。 (Xīngxīng zhī huǒ, kěyǐ liáoyuan) — Starlight shines far. Translated as: "A single spark can start a prairie fire." Seemingly small actions have far-reaching consequences. |
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