Chinese equivalent of an English saying
What is the Chinese equivalent of “Do the right thing”?
If you know the English saying "Do the right thing", this page shows nearby Chinese wisdom with similar meaning. The comparisons are conceptual, not claims of shared origin, and they are useful for writers, teachers, students, speakers, and cross-cultural readers.
Quick answer: The pages below are the nearest Chinese wisdom matches for the English idea “Do the right thing”.
Closest or Most Useful Matches
孟子曰：「富岁，子弟多赖；凶岁，子弟多暴，非天之降才尔殊也，其所以陷溺其心者然也。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「富岁，子弟多赖；凶岁，子弟多暴，非天之降才尔殊也，其所以陷溺其心者然也。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「尊贤使能，俊杰在位，则天下之士皆悦而愿立于其朝矣。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「尊贤使能，俊杰在位，则天下之士皆悦而愿立于其朝矣。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
穆公问曰：「吾有司死者三十三人，而民莫之死也。」 Meaning in English穆公问曰：「吾有司死者三十三人，而民莫之死也。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子曰，君子之于天下也，无适也，无莫也，义之与比。 Meaning in English子曰，君子之于天下也，无适也，无莫也，义之与比。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「有天爵者，有人爵者。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「有天爵者，有人爵者。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
白圭曰：「吾欲二十而取一，何如？」 Meaning in English白圭曰：「吾欲二十而取一，何如？」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「鱼，我所欲也；熊掌，亦我所欲也，二者不可得兼，舍鱼而取熊掌者也。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「鱼，我所欲也；熊掌，亦我所欲也，二者不可得兼，舍鱼而取熊掌者也。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「子路，人告之以有过则喜。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「子路，人告之以有过则喜。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
Related but Not Exact
万章问曰：「敢问交际何心也？」 Meaning in English万章问曰：「敢问交际何心也？」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
齐宣王问曰：「人皆谓我毁明堂。」 Meaning in English齐宣王问曰：「人皆谓我毁明堂。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
万章问曰：「人有言：『至于禹而德衰，不传于贤而传于子。」』 Meaning in English万章问曰：「人有言：『至于禹而德衰，不传于贤而传于子。」』: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「耻之于人大矣。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「耻之于人大矣。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「乃若其情，则可以为善矣，乃所谓善也。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「乃若其情，则可以为善矣，乃所谓善也。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子曰，夏礼吾能言之，杞不足征也，殷礼吾能言之，宋不足征也，文献不足故也，足，则吾能征之矣。 Meaning in English子曰，夏礼吾能言之，杞不足征也，殷礼吾能言之，宋不足征也，文献不足故也，足，则吾能征之矣。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and…
陈子曰：「古之君子何如则仕？」 Meaning in English陈子曰：「古之君子何如则仕？」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「广土众民，君子欲之，所乐不存焉。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「广土众民，君子欲之，所乐不存焉。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
Broader Context Pages
滕文公问曰：「齐人将筑薛，吾甚恐。」 Meaning in English滕文公问曰：「齐人将筑薛，吾甚恐。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子问公叔文子于公明贾曰，信乎，夫子不言不笑，不取乎。 Meaning in English子问公叔文子于公明贾曰，信乎，夫子不言不笑，不取乎。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
徐子曰：「仲尼亟称于水，曰：『水哉，水哉！」』 Meaning in English徐子曰：「仲尼亟称于水，曰：『水哉，水哉！」』: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「伯夷，目不视恶色，耳不听恶声。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「伯夷，目不视恶色，耳不听恶声。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
故曰：『仁者无敌。』 Meaning in English故曰：『仁者无敌。』: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子曰，言忠信，行笃敬，虽蛮貊之邦，行矣，言不忠信，行不笃敬，虽州里，行乎哉。 Meaning in English子曰，言忠信，行笃敬，虽蛮貊之邦，行矣，言不忠信，行不笃敬，虽州里，行乎哉。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子曰，礼云礼云，玉帛云乎哉，乐云乐云，钟鼓云乎哉。 Meaning in English子曰，礼云礼云，玉帛云乎哉，乐云乐云，钟鼓云乎哉。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
齐宣王问曰：「交邻国有道乎？」 Meaning in English齐宣王问曰：「交邻国有道乎？」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
Common Mistake and Safe Use
Use these links as conceptual bridges, not as proof that the English proverb and the Chinese saying have the same source. If you need academic or speech use, open the source-backed pages first and cite the original Chinese text.
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Questions People Ask
Is this the exact Chinese translation of “Do the right thing”?
No. It is a conceptual equivalent or nearby idea. The page links Chinese sayings and classical quotes that English readers can understand through this familiar phrase.
Can I use these comparisons in writing?
Yes. Use them as explanatory comparisons and cite the original Chinese source when a page lists one.