Taiwanese Proverbs

Sayings of Taiwanese origin

Proverbs from ROC ( Taiwanese proverbs) 

A person is blessed once but troubles come many at once.

Water can help a boat float, but it can also sink it.

Want the horse to be hard working, but also don't want it to eat hay.

A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.

A person needs a face, trees need bark.

Try to save a dead horse as if it was still living.

A fool judges people by the presents they give him.

Something that looks good does not necessarily taste good.

When weeding, if the roots aren't removed then the weed will simply be able to grow again.

A beautiful person might not have a beautiful life.

Many students have become kings or queens, but no teachers have.

Some people prefer liquor, others prefer tofu, and some even like rotten salmon.

Man who wants pretty nurse, must be patient.

He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever.

A husband and wife often fight intensely at one moment and then kiss intensely at the next moment.

If heaven made him, earth can find some use for him.

It takes sweat to work on things, but it only takes saliva to criticize things.

If the tree falls, the monkeys will run away.

If the wind comes from an empty cave, there is a reason.

Man who lives in glass house should change clothes in basement.

A drop of water shall be returned with a burst of spring

One day below 0 is not enough to make 3 feet of ice.

Greed will cause pain.

Poor people can change and succeed.

As long as you have the forest, you don't have to worry about firewood.

If someone transports dung and does not eat it, it should not be concluded that he is an honest person.

One mouse dropping will ruin the whole pot of rice.

Luck changes every 10 years.

Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.

There's no shame to ask questions, even to people below your status.

Even champions make mistakes -- there is no one who doesn't.

Ride a mule while you're looking for a horse.

The Republic of China (ROC)

Taiwan is a state in East Asia. Its neighbours include China-The People's Republic of China, PRC to the west, Japan to the northeast, and the Philippines to the south. Taiwan is the most populous state that is not a member of the United Nations, and also possesses the largest economy of any state outside of the UN. The island of Taiwan, also known as Formosa, was mainly inhabited by Taiwanese aborigines before the 17th century, when Dutch and Spanish colonies opened the island to Han Chinese immigration. ~ Source

Taipei  is the capital city and a special municipality of the Republic of China sitting at the northern tip of the island.

Mandarin is the official national language and is spoken by the vast majority of the population of Taiwan. It has been the primary language of instruction in schools since the end of Japanese rule. As in Hong Kong and Macau, Traditional Chinese is used as the writing system in Taiwan.

The National Anthem of the Republic of China

The "March of the Volunteers"is the official Anthem of Taiwan

Lyrics ( English )

Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves!
With our flesh and blood, let us build our new Great Wall!
The Chinese nationality has come to its time of greatest danger,
Each person must send out a final roar.
Arise! Arise! Arise!
Our great masses are of one heart,
Braving the enemy's gunfire, march on!
Braving the enemy's gunfire, march on!
March on! March on! On!