流水不腐, 户枢不蠹
Liú shuǐ bù fǔ, hù shū bú dù
Translation: Running water never goes bad; door hubs never gather termites.
Meaning: Things that are constantly in motion, or in use, never go bad.
Source
This proverb can be found in the Spring and Autumn Annals of Master Lü (lǚshì chūnqiū 吕氏春秋). This text was compiled around 239 BCE by the prime minister of the state of Qin, Lü Buwei.
Vocabulary
| Character | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 流 | liú | to flow (V) |
| 水 | shuǐ | water (N) |
| 不 | bù | not (Adv) |
| 腐 | fǔ | rotten (Adj) |
| 户 | hù | door (N) |
| 枢 | shū | (door)hub (N) |
| 蠹 | dù | worm (N) |
