桃李不言,下自成蹊

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Chinese

peach surname; plum not; no
to speak; to say; talk
to speak; to say; talk; word
 
under; next; lower
under; next; lower; below; underneath; down(wards); to go down; latter
 
from; self; oneself
from; self; oneself; since
 
finish; complete; accomplish
finish; complete; accomplish; become; turn into; win; succeed; one tenth
 
footpath
trad. (桃李不言,下自成蹊)
simp. #(桃李不言,下自成蹊)

Etymology

From the Records of the Grand Historian:

桃李不言,下自成蹊」。可以 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
桃李不言,下自成蹊」。可以 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Yàn yuē “táolǐ bù yán, xià zì chéng qī”. Cǐ yán suī xiǎo, kěyǐ yù dà yě.
There is a proverb which says, “Though the peach and plum trees do not speak, yet a path is trodden out to them.” It is a small saying, but one which is capable of conveying a great meaning.

Pronunciation


Idiom

桃李不言,下自成蹊

  1. (figurative) whether a person of true worth say about themself or not, they will ultimately win people's admiration