治大国若烹小鲜
zhì​dà​guó​ruò​pēng​xiǎo​xiān

governing is like cooking small fish

  1. 治 zhì nounverb
    to rule
    to rule; to govern; to manage or administer; to harness a river
  2. 大国 大國 dà​guó noun
    major power
    a large, wealthy, and powerful country; a great nation
  3. 若 ruò adjectiveadverb
    to seem
    to seem; to appear to; to be like; to look as if
  4. 烹 pēng nounverb
    to cook
    To boil or cook food; to brew tea; to prepare food.
  5. 小 xiǎo adjective
    small
    small; tiny; few; minor; in area, volume, quantity, or power, being less than average or less than the object of comparison; opposite of 大 dà
  6. 鲜 鮮 xiān noun
    delicacy
    (bound form) fresh food; seafood; aquatic foods; delicacies in season