Proverbs 谚语
 
Feifei:   Welcome to Q & A 《你问我答》节目，我是冯菲菲。
 
Rob:  And I'm Rob. Now could you just hold on a minute please? 
 
FX COUNTING MONEY
 
Feifei:   Rob, this isn't the time to be counting your money!
 
Rob:  Haven't your heard the saying, a penny saved is a penny earned?
 
Feifei:   省钱就是赚钱。Mmm, no I haven't. Nor has Robin in China who has been asking about this and other proverbs.
 
INSERT

Can you help me? Here are some English proverbs but unfortunately I'm not sure what they mean. Please can you explain them? They are: 

 1. Every cloud has a silver lining 

 2. A stitch in time saves nine 

 3. Don't count your chickens before they hatch 

 4. A penny saved is a penny earned 

 Best Regards, Robin  
 
Feifei:  Robin 的问题是关于proverbs. Rob, what's a proverb? 
 
Rob:  A proverb is a well known short saying. It's a bit like an idiom but it usually contains some traditional wisdom or truth and is based on common sense.  
 
Feifei:   传统的智慧和常识。So they are wise words or sayings 谚语。  
 
FX THUNDER AND LIGHTNING
 
Rob:  Let's start with 'every cloud has a silver lining'. 
 
Feifei:   乌云也有银边，也就是说黑暗中总有一丝光明。I have never noticed that!
 
Rob:  It's not literally true but the idea of a dark storm cloud having a silver lining can be compared to someone having a bad or negative experience that has some positive outcome. Like in this example…
 
Insert

The weather's so bad they've cancelled the football match, but now it means I can go to the party with you. You see, every cloud has a silver lining! 
 
Feifei:  这个谚语字面上的意思  literally 看起来是形容云彩的，但是其实真正含义是任何的困境 a bad situation 中都能找到一丝光明。Hold on…Rob are you knitting? 
 
FX KNITTING
 
Rob:  Yes…you see a stitch in time saves nine. That's the next proverb Robin mentioned.
 
Feifei:   小洞不补大洞吃苦。 
 
Rob:  I like this one. It's making a comparison with something you do in knitting. If you fix a small hole now it will save you fixing a bigger hole later. Here's an example…
 
Insert

If you have picked a question for your assignment, start writing it today. Don't wait until the end of the summer break. Remember, a stitch in time saves nine.
 
Feifei:   这是一个关于节省时间的谚语。这个谚语教我们遇到任何事情一定要及时处理，这样可以事半功倍，防微杜渐。I couldn't agree more!
 
Rob:  I know Feifei, you are always well prepared but are you ready for this next proverb?    I'll just open the door and give you a clue.
 
FX DOOR & CHICKENS
 
Feifei:   Ah yes! 'Don't count your chickens before they hatch'. Yes Rob, I know this one but I suppose you're going to tell us! 
 
Rob:  Feifei, don't count your chickens. You can explain this one.
 
Feifei:   Oh right! It means, you shouldn't count on something happening before it actually does. 事情没有结束前不要先下结论。Am I right?
 
Rob:  Of course you are! And now, perhaps I could carry on counting my pennies. 
 
FX COUNTING MONEY 
 
Feifei:  Well only if you can explain to me and Robin why a penny saved is a penny earned. 省钱就是赚钱。
 
Rob:  Well every penny saved is a penny you can't spend, so it feels like you have gained or earned money. 
 
Insert

I'm going to give you ten pounds but I want you to put it in the bank. A penny saved is a penny earned.
 
Rob:   It's good advice. You could save your jiǎo instead of pennies. 
 
Feifei:   哈哈，大家可以一起来一毛钱一毛钱的省。这些谚语真的是些 good advice.   But Rob, as it's the spring festival we should be giving our jiǎo away not saving them!
 
Rob:  That's true. But at least giving money away will bring good luck.
 
Feifei:   You see, every cloud has a silver lining! 希望今天的节目回答了听友 Robin 的问题。
 
Rob:  Yes, Robin can now count his chickens if he wants to! If you have a question for us then please email us.
 
Feifei:  请把问题发送到 questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk
 
Rob:  Bye for now and Xin Nian Hao! 
 
Feifei:   我们给大家拜年啦！