流水不腐
Chinese edit
flowing water; something flowing rapidly, continually or irreversibly like water | not; no | decay; rotten | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
trad. (流水不腐) | 流水 | 不 | 腐 | |
simp. #(流水不腐) | 流水 | 不 | 腐 |
Etymology edit
From 《呂氏春秋·盡數》:
- 流水不腐,戶樞不蠹,動也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: Lü Buwei, Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals, 239 BCE
- Liúshuǐ bùfǔ, hùshū bùdù, dòng yě. [Pinyin]
- That running water does not rot, and a door hinge does not suffer from worms, is because of movement.
流水不腐,户枢不蠹,动也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Pronunciation edit
Idiom edit
流水不腐
- Flowing water is never stale
- (figuratively) A rolling stone gathers no moss
- (figuratively) Things in frequent use are not easily eroded, and can remain energetic.