Learning 300 Chinese Proverbs

Book excerpt: Chinese proverbs are, in a sense, the DNA of Chinese culture and language. The meanings of many of these proverbs may not be obvious to Westerners. For example when Chinese say the proverb "Dog chases mouse," they mean "Mind your own business"-that is, dogs don't chase mice; it's not their job. In the process of truly making a connection with Chinese language and culture, a solid understanding of these proverbs goes a long way. Learning 300 Chinese Proverbs presents a unique book of Chinese proverbs that can be used as a tool for learning spoken and written Mandarin Chinese. This helpful, practical reference is complete with a section on grammar and offers an innovative approach to learning correct pronunciation, useful to both the beginner and the advanced student. Each proverb represents a new and unique lesson in Mandarin Chinese, using Simplified Chinese and the Pinyin transliteration system. Learning 300 Chinese Proverbs is so much more than a Chinese textbook; it also offers an overview of the Chinese civilization and language that goes back thousands of years.