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1. Fix the roof before the rain; Dig the well before you are thirsty
3. The Night is Darkest Before the Dawn
7. Faithful / Honorable / Trustworthy / Fidelity / Loyalty
12. Loyalty
14. Loyalty / Faithful / Devoted
补漏趁天晴未渴先掘井 is a Chinese proverb that literally translates as: Mend the roof while the weather is fine, [and when you are] not yet thirsty, dig the well beforehand.
In simple terms, this means: Always being prepared in advance.
See Also: Have a Walking Stick at the Ready Before You Stumble
Better to be broken jade than unbroken pottery
寧為玉碎 is the short version of a longer Chinese proverb which means “rather be shattered piece of jade than an unbroken piece of pottery.”
寧為玉碎 says the “rather be a broken piece of jade” part (the second half is implied - everyone in China knows this idiom).
A little more explanation:
Death is implied with the “broken” meaning. Jade is one of the most precious materials in Chinese history, and in this case, is compared with one's honor and self-worth. Pottery is just something you eat off of; it has no deep value, just as a person who has lost their honor or had none to begin with.
Thus, this means “better to die with honor than to live in shame” or words to that effect.
This is often translated in English as “Death Before Dishonor,” the famous military slogan.
I would also compare this to the English proverb, “Better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.”
Better to be broken jade than unbroken pottery
寧為玉碎不為瓦全 is the long version of a Chinese proverb that means “rather be shattered piece of jade than an unbroken piece of pottery.”
A little more explanation:
Death is implied with the “broken” meaning. Jade is one of the most precious materials in Chinese history, and in this case, is compared with one's honor and self-worth. Pottery is just something you eat off of, it has no deep value, just as a person who has lost their honor, or had none to begin with.
Thus, this means “better to die with honor than to live in shame” or words to that effect.
寧為玉碎不為瓦全 is often translated in English as “Death Before Dishonor,” the famous military slogan.
I would also compare this to the English proverb, “Better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.”
This is an idiom. It therefore doesn’t directly say exactly what it means. If you think about the English idiom, "The grass is always greener," it does not directly say "jealousy" or "envy" but everyone knows that it is implied.
黎明前的黑暗 is the most natural way to write “The night is darkest before the dawn,” in Chinese.
The words break down this way by meaning this way:
1.黎明 dawn or daybreak
2.前 before, in front, ago, former, previous, and/or earlier
3.的 (possessive particle) of
4.黑暗 dark, darkly, or darkness
If you try to understand the Chinese word order and grammar, it's like, “Before dawn is the darkest [time].”
Rather die than compromise
寧死不屈 is often translated as “Death Before Dishonor.”
The literal translation is more like, “Better die than compromise.” The last two characters mean “not to bend” or “not to bow down.” Some might even say that it means “not to surrender.” Thus, you could say this proverb means “Better to die than live on my knees” or simply “no surrender” (with the real idea being that you would rather die than surrender).
You can die or kill, but never dishonor or disgrace yourself
可殺不可辱 almost directly matches the idea of “Death Before Dishonor” while also being an ancient Chinese proverb.
The direct meaning is, “[you] can die/kill [but you] cannot [allow] dishonor/disgrace [upon yourself].” Chinese grammar, and especially ancient grammar, is a little different than English. Not nearly as many articles are needed, and a lot is implied.
There are many ways to express ideas similar to “Death Before Dishonor” in Chinese, and I would rate this one in the top two.
A soldier can die or kill, but never dishonor or disgrace himself
士可殺不可辱 almost directly matches the military idea of “Death Before Dishonor,” while also being an ancient Chinese proverb.
The direct meaning is, “[A] soldier/warrior can die/kill [but he/she] cannot [allow] dishonor/disgrace [upon himself/herself].” Chinese grammar, and especially ancient grammar, is a little different than English. Not nearly as many articles are needed, and a lot is implied.
There are a lot of ways to express ideas similar to “Death Before Dishonor” in Chinese, and I would rate this one in the top two.
This is the original form of this proverb with the character for “soldier/warrior” at the beginning. Most of the time, this character is dropped, becoming a five-character proverb (the soldier/warrior part is implied, even without the character being present in the proverb). We also offer a shorter version.
不名誉より死 is the Japanese version of “Death Before Dishonor.”
Japanese grammar is a bit different than English, so this really means something like “Rather die than to be dishonored.” However, “dishonor” is the first three Kanji, and death is the last Kanji. There are two Hiragana (より) which indicate the preference is death when comparing dishonor to death.
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
寧死不降 is an ancient Chinese proverb that can be translated as “Rather die than surrender,” “Prefer death over surrender,” “To prefer death to surrender,” or simply “No surrender.”
This is probably the closest proverb to the English proverb “Better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.”
信義 is a word often used to describe a person with an honest and loyal reputation.
Simply put, this applies to somebody you can trust (with your life).
In Chinese, this is often defined as good faith, honor, trust, and justice.
In Korean, this word means fidelity, truthfulness, or faithfulness.
In Japanese: faith, fidelity, and loyalty. It's also a Japanese male given name when pronounced “Nobuyoshi.”
This literally means an arrogant army is bound to lose.
The meaning is similar to “pride goes before a fall.”
Others may translate this as “defeat is inevitable for an overconfident army,” “being arrogant and overconfident inevitably leads to defeat,” or “pride comes before a fall.”
忠 is the simplest way to write the word loyalty in Chinese and Japanese.
A single character like this leaves the meaning open. But alone, a Chinese or Japanese person would think of loyalty to duty or loyalty to one's master (in ancient times). I suppose that it could be loyalty to your boss or company in this day in age.
忠 can also mean fidelity or faithfulness.
This can also be romanized as “chung.”
忠誠 is the written form of loyalty that is universal in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.
Loyalty is staying true to someone. It is standing up for something you believe in without wavering. It is being faithful to your family, country, school, friends, or ideals when the going gets tough and when things are good. With loyalty, you build relationships that last forever.
Notes:
1. There is also a Japanese version that is part of the Bushido Code which may be more desirable depending on whether your intended audience is Japanese or Chinese.
2. This version of loyalty is sometimes translated as devotion, sincerity, fidelity, or allegiance.
忠義 is another form of loyalty or devotion.
In Chinese, this is more specifically about being loyal and devoted to your friends.
In Japanese, this is more often used to mean loyalty to your country or nation.
Except for the slight difference noted above between Japanese and Chinese, this word is understood universally in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja. It can also be used to describe devotion or fidelity.
It should be noted that this Kanji combination is being used less and less in modern Japan (this is a better choice if your audience is Chinese, though any Japanese person will clearly understand it).
忠実 is a Japanese way to write “Loyalty” - it also contains the ideas of being faithful, devoted, true, and obedient.
The second character is a modified form only used in the Japanese lexicon; however, Chinese speakers can easily guess the meaning.
This is also a virtue of the Samurai Warrior
See our page with just Code of the Samurai / Bushido here
転ばぬ先の杖 is a Japanese proverb that literally translates as: Have a walking stick ready before stumbling.
This is similar to the English idiom, “A stitch in time saves nine.”
In simple terms, this means: Always being prepared in advance.
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
See Also: Fix Roof Before the Rain; Dig the Well Before You Are Thirsty
The most famous tattoo in Chinese history
盡忠報國 is a proverb that is the tattoo worn on the back of Yue Fei, a famous Chinese warrior who lived until 1142 A.D.
The tattoo can be translated as “Serve the country with the utmost loyalty.” More literally, it means “[The] Ultimate Loyalty [is too] Duty [of] Country.”
Legend has it that this tattoo once saved his life when he was accused of treason.
The first two characters have come to create a word that means “serve the country faithfully” or “die for the country.” Note: It's more a willingness to die for one's country than the actual act of dying.
The last two characters have come to mean “Dedicate oneself to the service of one's country.”
Both of these words are probably only in the Chinese lexicon because of this famous tattoo.
If you break it down, character-by-character, here is what you get:
1. To the utmost, to the limit of something, the ultimate.
2. Loyalty or duty (a sense of duty to one's master, lord, country, or job).
3. Report, recompense, give back to (in this case, you are giving yourself to your country as payback).
4. Country, state, nation, kingdom.
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The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Fix the roof before the rain; Dig the well before you are thirsty | 補漏趁天晴未渴先掘井 补漏趁天晴未渴先掘井 | bǔ lòu chèn tiān qíng wèi kě xiān jué jǐng bu3 lou4 chen4 tian1 qing2 wei4 ke3 xian1 jue2 jing3 bu lou chen tian qing wei ke xian jue jing | pu lou ch`en t`ien ch`ing wei k`o hsien chüeh ching pu lou chen tien ching wei ko hsien chüeh ching |
|
Death Before Dishonor | 寧為玉碎 宁为玉碎 | níng wéi yù suì ning2 wei2 yu4 sui4 ning wei yu sui ningweiyusui | ning wei yü sui ningweiyüsui |
|
Death Before Dishonor | 寧為玉碎不為瓦全 宁为玉碎不为瓦全 | níng wéi yù suì bù wéi wǎ quán ning2 wei2 yu4 sui4 bu4 wei2 wa3 quan2 ning wei yu sui bu wei wa quan ningweiyusuibuweiwaquan | ning wei yü sui pu wei wa ch`üan ning wei yü sui pu wei wa chüan |
|
The Night is Darkest Before the Dawn | 黎明前的黑暗 | lí míng qián de hēi àn li2 ming2 qian2 de hei1 an4 li ming qian de hei an limingqiandeheian | li ming ch`ien te hei an limingchienteheian li ming chien te hei an |
|
Death Before Surrender | 寧死不屈 宁死不屈 | níng sǐ bù qū ning2 si3 bu4 qu1 ning si bu qu ningsibuqu | ning ssu pu ch`ü ningssupuchü ning ssu pu chü |
|
Death Before Dishonor | 可殺不可辱 可杀不可辱 | kě shā bù kě rǔ ke3 sha1 bu4 ke3 ru3 ke sha bu ke ru keshabukeru | k`o sha pu k`o ju koshapukoju ko sha pu ko ju |
|
Death Before Dishonor | 士可殺不可辱 士可杀不可辱 | shì kě shā bù kě rǔ shi4 ke3 sha1 bu4 ke3 ru3 shi ke sha bu ke ru shikeshabukeru | shih k`o sha pu k`o ju shihkoshapukoju shih ko sha pu ko ju |
|
Death Before Dishonor | 不名譽より死 不名誉より死 | fu mei yo yo ri shi fumeiyoyorishi | ||
Death Before Surrender | 寧死不降 宁死不降 | nìng sǐ bù xiáng ning4 si3 bu4 xiang2 ning si bu xiang ningsibuxiang | ning ssu pu hsiang ningssupuhsiang |
|
Faithful Honorable Trustworthy Fidelity Loyalty | 信義 信义 | shingi | xìn yì / xin4 yi4 / xin yi / xinyi | hsin i / hsini |
Pride Goes Before a Fall | 驕兵必敗 骄兵必败 | kyouheihippai / kyohehippai kyoheihipai / kyohehipai | jiāo bīng bì bài jiao1 bing1 bi4 bai4 jiao bing bi bai jiaobingbibai | chiao ping pi pai chiaopingpipai |
Hoes Before Bros | 見色忘義 见色忘义 | jiàn sè wàng yì jian4 se4 wang4 yi4 jian se wang yi jiansewangyi | chien se wang i chiensewangi |
|
Love Loyalty Respect | 愛忠敬 | ài zhōng jìng ai4 zhong1 jing4 ai zhong jing aizhongjing | ai chung ching aichungching |
|
Love Loyalty Respect | 真愛忠誠尊敬 | zhēn ài zhōng chéng zū jìng zhen1 ai4 zhong1 cheng2 zu1 jing4 zhen ai zhong cheng zu jing zhenaizhongchengzujing | chen ai chung ch`eng tsu ching chenaichungchengtsuching chen ai chung cheng tsu ching |
|
Loyalty to Duty or Master | 忠 | chuu / chu | zhōng / zhong1 / zhong | chung |
Loyalty | 忠誠 忠诚 | chuu sei / chuusei / chu sei | zhōng chéng zhong1 cheng2 zhong cheng zhongcheng | chung ch`eng chungcheng chung cheng |
Loyalty Devotion | 忠義 忠义 | chuu gi / chuugi / chu gi | zhōng yì / zhong1 yi4 / zhong yi / zhongyi | chung i / chungi |
Loyalty Faithful Devoted | 忠實 忠実 | chuujitsu / chuugi chujitsu / chugi | ||
Respect and Loyalty | 尊敬忠誠 尊敬忠诚 | son kei chu sei sonkeichusei | zūn jìng zhōng chéng zun1 jing4 zhong1 cheng2 zun jing zhong cheng zunjingzhongcheng | tsun ching chung ch`eng tsunchingchungcheng tsun ching chung cheng |
Have a Walking Stick at the Ready Before You Stumble | 転ばぬ先の杖 | koro ba nu saki no tsue korobanusakinotsue | ||
Ultimate Loyalty to Your Country | 盡忠報國 尽忠报国 | jìn zhōng bào guó jin4 zhong1 bao4 guo2 jin zhong bao guo jinzhongbaoguo | chin chung pao kuo chinchungpaokuo |
|
In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line. In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese. |
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Some people may refer to this entry as Loyalty Before Dishonor Kanji, Loyalty Before Dishonor Characters, Loyalty Before Dishonor in Mandarin Chinese, Loyalty Before Dishonor Characters, Loyalty Before Dishonor in Chinese Writing, Loyalty Before Dishonor in Japanese Writing, Loyalty Before Dishonor in Asian Writing, Loyalty Before Dishonor Ideograms, Chinese Loyalty Before Dishonor symbols, Loyalty Before Dishonor Hieroglyphics, Loyalty Before Dishonor Glyphs, Loyalty Before Dishonor in Chinese Letters, Loyalty Before Dishonor Hanzi, Loyalty Before Dishonor in Japanese Kanji, Loyalty Before Dishonor Pictograms, Loyalty Before Dishonor in the Chinese Written-Language, or Loyalty Before Dishonor in the Japanese Written-Language.