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	to carry; to convey; to load to carry; to convey; to load; to hold; and; also; as well as; simultaneously; year	boat		also	ability; can; may ability; can; may; capable; energy; able	to cover; to overflow; to reply to a letter to cover; to overflow; to reply to a letter; to overturn; to capsize	boat
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 can carry the boat, can overturn the boat also.”

Etymology

From the book Xunzi (third century BC):

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]

The ruler is the boat; the common people are the water. The water carries the boat; the water overturns the boat. Thus, should the ruler wish for stability, there is nothing better than to govern with equity and to care for the 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

水能載舟，亦能覆舟

1. People's will may support the leader, but may also cause the leader to fall from power.
2. 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

See also

• 군주민수 (君舟民水, gunjuminsu)