水能载舟，亦能覆舟

Traditional: 水能載舟，亦能覆舟

shuǐ néng zài zhōu , yì néng fù zhōu

Dictionary entry

lit. water may keep the boat afloat but may also sink it (proverb)

What does 水能载舟，亦能覆舟 mean?

水能载舟，亦能覆舟 (shuǐ néng zài zhōu , yì néng fù zhōu) has the following dictionary meaning.

1lit. water may keep the boat afloat but may also sink it (proverb)

2fig. the people can support a regime or overturn it

3if sth is used properly, one can benefit from it, otherwise it can do harm

4things can be double-edged

Character breakdown

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水Shuǐsurname Shui · Shui ethnic group 能Néngsurname Neng 载zǎito record in writing · to carry (i.e. publish in a newspaper etc)舟zhōuboat 亦yìalso 覆fùto cover · to overflow

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How to pronounce 水能载舟，亦能覆舟

水能载舟，亦能覆舟

shuǐ néng zài zhōu , yì néng fù zhōu

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Base dictionary data: CC-CEDICT · CC BY-SA 4.0.