Chinese equivalent of an English saying

What is the Chinese equivalent of “The pot calling the kettle black”?

If you know the English saying "The pot calling the kettle black", 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 “The pot calling the kettle black”.

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. 孟子曰:「子亦来见我乎?」 Meaning in English孟子曰:「子亦来见我乎?」: 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. 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

告子曰:「生之谓性。」 Meaning in English告子曰:「生之谓性。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use. 孟子对曰:「贤者而后乐此,不贤者虽有此,不乐也。」 Meaning in English孟子对曰:「贤者而后乐此,不贤者虽有此,不乐也。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use. 曰:「夫既或治之,予何言哉?」 Meaning in English曰:「夫既或治之,予何言哉?」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use. 孟子曰:「惠而不知为政。」 Meaning in English孟子曰:「惠而不知为政。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use. 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. 孟子自齐葬于鲁,反于齐,止于嬴。 Meaning in English孟子自齐葬于鲁,反于齐,止于嬴。: 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.

Broader Context Pages

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:「恭者不侮人,俭者不夺人。」 Meaning in English孟子曰:「恭者不侮人,俭者不夺人。」: 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. 孟子曰:「附之以韩魏之家,如其自视欿然,则过人远矣。」 Meaning in English孟子曰:「附之以韩魏之家,如其自视欿然,则过人远矣。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use. 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. 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. 孟子曰:「道在尔而求诸远,事在易而求之难。」 Meaning in English孟子曰:「道在尔而求诸远,事在易而求之难。」: 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.

Related Modern Tags

Questions People Ask

Is this the exact Chinese translation of “The pot calling the kettle black”?

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.