Proverbs

俗话

What are we doing today?1. Learning seven English proverbs and their

meanings.

2. Translating three Chinese proverbs and explaining their meanings.

3. Writing dialogues to practice using proverbs in conversation.

What is a proverb?

A proverb is a wise saying (谚语 ) that offers guidance (指导 ) on how to live your life.

Proverbs are used in conversations (会话 ) and in literature (文学 ).

You can use proverbs to give advice (咨询 ) to others when they need help.

Write down each proverb in your notebook!

ENGLISH PROVERBS

“The pen is mightier than the sword.”

“笔胜于刀文比武强 .”

What does it mean?

Trying to convince people with ideas and words is more effective (高效 ) than trying to force (暴力 ) people to do what you want.

In the proverb, “the pen” means convincing people with ideas and words. “The sword” means trying to force people to do what you want.

“没有人是一座孤岛 .”“No man is an island.”

What does it mean?

You cannot be alone for the rest of your life. Everyone needs help from other people, like friends and family.

An island is far away from any other land, so it is alone. But a person cannot live that way because they will be sad.

“住在玻璃房子里的人不应该扔石头 .”

“People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.”

What does it mean?

Do not criticize (指责 ) someone for doing something that you also do.

In the proverb, “throw stones” means to criticize someone. If you throw stones in a glass house, you will break the house.

If you criticize someone for doing something that you also do, you criticize yourself too.

“Birds of a feather flock together.”

物以类聚

What does it mean?

People like to spend time with other people who are similar (类似 ) to them.

“Birds of a feather” means birds with the same kind of feathers.

A “flock” is a group of birds. “Flock together” means that those birds will become a group.

“A watched pot never boils.”一个观察到的锅不开

What does it mean?

If something takes some time to finish, do not watch it too closely because then it will seem like it is taking a very, very long time.

If you are waiting for water to boil in a pot, then watching the pot until the water boils will make it seem like it takes a long time.

If you do something else during that time, it does not seem so long.

“一个人的垃圾是另一个人的宝藏 .”

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

What does it mean?

Different people have different ideas about what is important to them. Not everyone thinks the same things are good or bad.

For example, let’s say one man does not like a book and throws it away. Another man could pick it up and think it is a good book.

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

What does it mean?

Do not think that something is bad just because it looks bad.

Things are not what they seem at first. You must try things to see whether they are really good or bad.

If you choose to not read a book because you don’t like the cover, you could be missing out (漏掉 ) on a good story.

Write down each proverb in your notebook!

CHINESE PROVERBS

覆水难收“ Spilt water is hard to

recover.”In English, people usually say “There’s no use crying over spilt milk.”

It means that if something bad happens, there is nothing you can do about it, so you should try to move on.

人无千日好，花无百日红“ There is no person that has 1000 good days in

a row, no flower that stays red for 100 days.”

In English, people usually say “all good things come to an end.”

It means that good things do not last forever.

光阴似箭“ Time is like an arrow.”In English, people usually say “time flies.”

It means that when you look back, time seems to have passed quickly, even though it did not seem that way before.

Give advice with

proverbs!

Choose a proverb for each situation (情况 ).

Which proverb should you use?

Dear students,

I am angry at my friend because he ate my lunch. Should I punch (拳打 ) him in the face or talk to him about it?

Sincerely,

Peter Campbell

• Don’t judge a book by its cover.

• The pen is mightier than the sword.

• Spilt water is hard to recover.

• Birds of a feather flock together.

Which proverb should you use?

Dear students,

I am angry at my friend because he ate my lunch. Should I punch (拳打 ) him in the face or talk to him about it?

Sincerely,

Peter Campbell

• Don’t judge a book by its cover.

• The pen is mightier than the sword.

• Spilt water is hard to recover.

• Birds of a feather flock together.

Which proverb should you use?

Dear students,

My new neighbor wants to be my friend, but her clothes are very ugly. My mother says I should be her friend because she is nice. What should I do?

Sincerely,

Betty Draper

• No man is an island.

• There is no person that has 1000 good days in a row, no flower that stays red for 100 days.

• Time is like an arrow.

• Don’t judge a book by its cover.

Which proverb should you use?

Dear students,

My new neighbor wants to be my friend, but her clothes are very ugly. My mother says I should be her friend because she is nice. What should I do?

Sincerely,

Betty Draper

• No man is an island.

• There is no person that has 1000 good days in a row, no flower that stays red for 100 days.

• Time is like an arrow.

• Don’t judge a book by its cover.

Which proverb should you use?

Dear students,

My parents always argue with me and my friends are always too busy to play with me. I’m thinking about running away from home and never talking to them again! Do you think this is a good idea?

Sincerely,

Roger Sterling

• People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

• Don’t judge a book by its cover.

• No man is an island.

• One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

Which proverb should you use?

Dear students,

My parents always argue with me and my friends are always too busy to play with me. I’m thinking about running away from home and never talking to them again! Do you think this is a good idea?

Sincerely,

Roger Sterling

• People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

• Don’t judge a book by its cover.

• No man is an island.

• One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

Which proverb should you use?

Dear students,

I met a beautiful girl last night and I gave her my QQ, but she has not talked to me yet. I feel like I have been waiting for so long! It’s driving me crazy! What do I do?

Sincerely,

Harry Crane

• Time is an arrow.

• Don’t judge a book by its cover.

• A watched pot never boils.

• The pen is mightier than the sword.

Which proverb should you use?

Dear students,

I met a beautiful girl last night and I gave her my QQ, but she has not talked to me yet. I feel like I have been waiting for so long! It’s driving me crazy! What do I do?

Sincerely,

Harry Crane

• Time is an arrow.

• Don’t judge a book by its cover.

• A watched pot never boils.

• The pen is mightier than the sword.

写对话 !Write a dialogue!

Write a dialogue

Work with 2-3 other students to write a dialogue. Everyone in your group must say something!

Write down what everyone will say in one of your notebooks.

The dialogue must include a proverb.

Example:

Student A: Do you want to go to the new dumpling restaurant on Furong Road?

Student B: I’m not sure, the restaurant does not have many tables or windows. I think it is ugly.

Student A: Don’t judge a book by its cover! Even though it is ugly, the restaurant may serve great dumplings.

Example:

Student A: We have so much homework to do today. I can’t believe it!

Student B: Not so long ago, we were babies and did not have to do any homework.

Student C: Yes, time is like an arrow.

Now write your own!

Work with 2-3 other students to write a dialogue. Everyone in your group must say something!

Write down what everyone will say in one of your notebooks.

The dialogue must include a proverb.

Time to say goodbye, bye bye!