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逢人且说三分话

féng rén qiě shuō sān fēn huà
Don't reveal your whole hand.

When meeting people, only speak three-tenths of what you know.

Be cautious and reserved when talking to others; do not reve...

Be cautious and reserved when talking to others; do not reveal everything you know or feel. It advises protecting yourself by keeping some thoughts private.

This reflects the Chinese cultural emphasis on prudence and the potential dangers of careless speech. Trust must be earned, and not everyone is worthy of your full honesty.

Someone might say this when a friend is about to share a secret with a new acquaintance they just met.

Chinese people use this saying to teach the importance of discretion and self-protection in social interactions. It signals that being guarded is a sign of wisdom, not dishonesty.

#caution #social-rules #human-nature

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