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
variant 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.][▼ expand/hide]

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, circa 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

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Pinyin: shuǐ néng zài zhōu, yì néng fù zhōu
  - Zhuyin: ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄋㄥˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄓㄡ, ㄧˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄓㄡ
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shoei neng tzay jou, yih neng fuh jou
  - IPA ^(key): /ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹¹ nɤŋ³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - 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
  - IPA ^(key): /sɵy̯³⁵ nɐŋ²¹ t͡sɔːy̯³³ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ jɪk̚² nɐŋ²¹ fʊk̚⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

Proverb

水能載舟，亦能覆舟

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

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