not in accordance with one's wishes; disappointing; failing to satisfy

to be inferior to; contrary to what was expected, it is not as good as [[不如|不如|bu4 ru2]]

to behave in an extremely immoral or cruel way; to be lower than an animal

To feel ashamed or embarrassed because one is not as good as others; to feel inferior to others.

To consider oneself as not being as good as someone else; to admit with regret that one is not another's equal.

Worse than a dog or pig; an insult describing someone who is despicable or lower than an animal.

Short-term pain is better than long-term suffering; it is better to take decisive action to end a painful situation quickly rather than letting it drag on.

it is better to avoid unnecessary trouble or avoid getting involved in others' business to keep things simple

(idiom) better to rely on oneself than to ask others for help; if you want something done well, do it yourself

seeing for oneself once is better than hearing about something a hundred times; firsthand experience is more reliable than hearsay

(idiom) deference is no substitute for obedience; used as a polite way to accept an invitation, request, or gift from another person

things are not as good as they used to be

A close neighbor is more helpful than a relative living far away; emphasizes the value of having someone nearby to offer immediate help or support in times of need

Used to describe how things or situations are declining over time, or that the younger generation is not as capable as the older one

It is better to live even a difficult or miserable life than to die, suggesting that life should be valued above all else; also written [[好死不如恶活|好死不如惡活|hao3 si3 bu4 ru2 e4 huo2]].

a common saying meaning that improving your health through proper diet and nutrition is more effective than taking medicine or supplements

An expression meaning it is better to return home, retire, or quit; often used to convey feelings of frustration or disappointment.

Literally meaning "to hear of a name is not as good as meeting in person"; used to express that seeing someone or something for oneself is more reliable or impressive than just hearing about their reputation.

Suggested when it is better to maintain the status quo than to make a change that might cause trouble; it is better to avoid starting something new than to risk complications, similar to [[多一事不如少一事|多一事不如少一事|duo1 yi1 shi4 bu4 ru2 shao3 yi1 shi4]].

(idiom) Explaining in words is not as good as teaching by example; teaching through one's own actions is more effective than verbal instruction

(idiom) things getting worse and worse; describing a situation where each successive generation or item is inferior to the one before it

inciting people to action by challenging or provoking them is more effective than simply asking or ordering them to do something

(proverb) It is better to stay alive and endure hardships than to die; life is precious even in the most difficult circumstances.

seeing something for oneself is better than hearing about it from others; firsthand experience is more reliable than hearsay

(idiom) a clever ruse is not as good as simple honesty; the unvarnished truth is better than a cunning lie

describes someone whose character is extremely low and despicable, even worse than animals; literally "not even equal to a dog or swine"

picking an auspicious day is not as good as seizing a chance opportunity; it is better to do something right now than to wait for a better time

give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime

It is better to teach someone a skill than to simply provide for their immediate needs; knowledge is the best charity.

Commonly used to say that arriving at the exact right moment is better than simply being early; perfect timing.

It is better to avoid starting something new than to deal with the trouble it causes; to avoid meddling or taking on extra responsibilities to stay out of trouble.

one person's honest and forthright criticism is more valuable than the mindless compliance of a thousand people; literally, the 'yes yes' of a thousand people is not as good as the 'honest speech' of one scholar

Used to describe being in extreme pain or misery, such that living is more unbearable than dying.

It is better to employ someone who wants to make up for a mistake than someone who is arrogant about their past achievements.

No matter how much a person calculates, they cannot change the arrangements of heaven; used to express that one's plans can be derailed by unforeseen events or fate.

It is better to go home and weave a net than to stand by the pond longing for fish; one should take practical action instead of just wishing for success.

Proverb meaning that things in life go against one's wishes eight or nine times out of ten; used to comfort someone by reminding them that setbacks and disappointments are a normal part of life

leaving much to be desired; unsatisfactory; undesirable

It is better to have no books at all than to believe everything that is written in them; one should read critically rather than following books blindly

To be inferior to something else, often implying that an alternative course of action would be better

far inferior to; far from being as good as

a good memory is not as reliable as even a broken pen; it is better to take notes than to rely on memory alone

(idiom) describes the feeling that no place is as comfortable as one's own home; literally: a golden nest or a silver nest is not as good as one's own doghouse

To be getting worse by the day; to decline steadily with each day.

the palest ink is better than the best memory; an idiom emphasizing that writing things down is more reliable than relying on one's memory

It is better to endure a difficult or dishonorable life than to die a noble or easy death.

if an official does not stand up for the people, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes

to be much worse compared to how things used to be; to have declined significantly