With age comes accumulated wisdom, cunning, and insight into human nature. Old people are often seen as having a near-magical ability to read situations and predict outcomes.
This saying has a double edge: it can be respectful (praising elder wisdom) or wary (implying old people are manipulative). It reflects the Chinese respect for age combined with a folk belief in experience as a form of 'essence' (精).
Chinese culture traditionally venerates elders, and this saying elevates their life experience to almost supernatural status. It also serves as a reminder to younger people to listen to their elders, as their intuition is backed by decades of trial and error.
Draw random cards from hundreds of real Chinese folk sayings and proverbs. Each flip reveals what Chinese people actually mean.
🎴 Play Chinese Wisdom Cards