水能载舟，亦能覆舟
Traditional form:
水能載舟，亦能覆舟
Pinyin (reading):
shuǐnéngzàizhōu,yìnéngfùzhōu
Definitions:
- lit. water may keep the boat afloat but may also sink it (proverb)
- fig. the people can support a regime or overturn it
- if sth is used properly, one can benefit from it, otherwise it can do harm
- things can be double-edged
Characters:
- 水 - water, liquid, lotion, juice
- 能 - can, may; capable, full of energy
- 载 - load; to carry, to convey, to transport
- 舟 - boat, ship
- 亦 - also, too; likewise
- 能 - can, may; capable, full of energy
- 覆 - to cover; to overturn; to repeat; to reply
- 舟 - boat, ship
Traditional characters: