水能載舟，亦能覆舟

See also: 水能载舟，亦能覆舟

Chinese

		water; river	ability; can; may ability; can; may; capable; energy; able			also	ability; can; may ability; can; may; capable; energy; able
trad. (水能載舟，亦能覆舟)		水	能	載舟	，	亦	能	覆舟
simp. (水能载舟，亦能覆舟)		水	能	载舟	，	亦	能	覆舟
alternative forms		水可載舟，亦可覆舟／水可载舟，亦可覆舟 水則載舟，水則覆舟／水则载舟，水则覆舟
Literally: “The water that bears the boat is the same that swallows it.”

Etymology

From the book Xunzi:

君者，舟也。庶人者，水也。水則載舟，水則覆舟。故君人者，欲安，則莫若平政愛民矣。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

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君者，舟也。庶人者，水也。水则载舟，水则覆舟。故君人者，欲安，则莫若平政爱民矣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: Xunzi, c. 3^rd century BCE

Jūn zhě, zhōu yě. Shùrén zhě, shuǐ yě. Shuǐ zé zǎi zhōu, shuǐ zé fù zhōu. Gù jūn rén zhě, yù ān, zé mò ruò píngzhèng àimín yǐ. [Pinyin]

A ruler is like a boat and common people are like water. The boat can be carried by the water, but water can also overturn it. If a ruler wants to rule in peace, the best thing he can do is love his people.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): shuǐ néng zài zhōu, yì néng fù zhōu

  (Zhuyin): ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄋㄥˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄓㄡ , ㄧˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄓㄡ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): seoi² nang⁴ zoi³ zau¹, jik⁶ nang⁴ fuk¹ zau¹

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: shuǐ néng zài zhōu, yì néng fù zhōu
    • Zhuyin: ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄋㄥˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄓㄡ , ㄧˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄓㄡ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: shuěi néng zài jhou, yì néng fù jhou
    • Wade–Giles: shui³ nêng² tsai⁴ chou¹, i⁴ nêng² fu⁴ chou¹
    • Yale: shwěi néng dzài jōu-, yì néng fù jōu
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shoei neng tzay jou, yih neng fuh jou
    • Palladius: шуй нэн цзай чжоу, и нэн фу чжоу (šuj nɛn czaj čžou, i nɛn fu čžou)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɤŋ³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: seoi² nang⁴ zoi³ zau¹, jik⁶ nang⁴ fuk¹ zau¹
    • Yale: séui nàhng joi jāu, yihk nàhng fūk jāu
    • Cantonese Pinyin: soey² nang⁴ dzoi³ dzau¹, jik⁹ nang⁴ fuk⁷ dzau¹
    • Guangdong Romanization: sêu² neng⁴ zoi³ zeo¹, yig⁶ neng⁴ fug¹ zeo¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sɵy̯³⁵ nɐŋ²¹ t͡sɔːi̯³³ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ jɪk̚² nɐŋ²¹ fʊk̚⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

Proverb

1. If something is used correctly, it will be of benefit. If used incorrectly, it will do harm; X is a good servant but a bad master