Hanzi Now
CharactersIdiomsChinese NameFlashcards
Tools

Visual content

  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorCreate PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Character Highlight AnimatorChoose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
  • Chinese Text Morph AnimatorTurn one Chinese character, word or phrase into another; download SVG, MP4 or WebM

Audio content

  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting

Teaching materials

  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
  • Bingo CardsPicture and word Bingo for your class
  • Picture WorksheetsChinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Other

  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Zodiac CalculatorFind your animal sign from your birth date and make a zodiac card.
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
View all tools →
水可载舟,亦可覆舟
水可载舟,亦可覆舟
水可载舟,亦可覆舟
水可载舟,亦可覆舟
水可载舟,亦可覆舟
水可载舟,亦可覆舟
水可载舟,亦可覆舟
水可载舟,亦可覆舟

水可载舟,亦可覆舟 — “What can sustain can also destroy”

水可载舟,亦可覆舟 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “What can sustain can also destroy”. Something beneficial can also become detrimental if mishandled. It emphasizes the dual nature of things, where a source of power or advantage can also be a source of danger or ruin. Literally, “Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it”.

Frequency

水可载舟,亦可覆舟 Pronunciation and Pinyin

水可载舟,亦可覆舟 Character Breakdown

CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
水
shuǐ4water, liquid, river, juice
可
kě5can, may, suitable
载
zài10carry, load, record, year
舟
zhōu6boat
,,—
亦
yì6also, too
可
kě5can, may, suitable
覆
fù18cover, overturn, reply
舟
zhōu6boat

Example Sentence with 水可载舟,亦可覆舟

互联网在方便我们生活的同时,也带来了信息过载和隐私泄露的风险,真是水可载舟,亦可覆舟,我们要学会趋利避害。
While the internet simplifies our lives, it also brings risks of information overload and privacy breaches; truly, what can sustain can also destroy, and we must learn to leverage its benefits while mitigating harm.

Idioms Related to 水可载舟,亦可覆舟

Synonyms of 水可载舟,亦可覆舟

  • shuǐ水néng能zài载zhōu舟,,yì亦néng能fù覆zhōu舟Something beneficial can also be harmful

More idioms starting with 水

  • shuǐ水zhōng中zhuō捉yuè月chase an illusion
  • shuǐ水zhōng中lāo捞yuè月make futile efforts
  • shuǐ水zhōng中zhuó著yán盐blend in perfectly without a trace
  • shuǐ水rǔ乳zhī之qì契inseparable and harmonious relationship
  • shuǐ水rǔ乳jiāo交róng融blend perfectly together
  • shuǐ水pèi佩fēng风shang裳adorned with water and wind
  • shuǐ水guāng光shān山sè色picturesque natural landscapes
  • shuǐ水guāng光jiē接tiān天shimmering water merges with sky
  • shuǐ水jìng净é鹅fēi飞lose everything, utterly destitute
  • shuǐ水zé则zài载zhōu舟,,shuǐ水zé则fù覆zhōu舟What sustains can also destroy
  • shuǐ水dào到qú渠chéng成When conditions are ripe, success will follow
  • shuǐ水dào到yú鱼xíng行When conditions are ripe, success follows naturally

Recommended tools

Writing Worksheets

Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion

Open the tool →

Picture Worksheets

Chinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Open the tool →

Stroke Order Animator

Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4

Open the tool →

Bingo Cards

Picture and word Bingo for your class

Open the tool →

Questions about 水可载舟,亦可覆舟

What does 水可载舟,亦可覆舟 mean?

水可载舟,亦可覆舟 (shuǐ kě zài zhōu , yì kě fù zhōu) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “What can sustain can also destroy”.

How do you pronounce 水可载舟,亦可覆舟?

水可载舟,亦可覆舟 is pronounced shuǐ kě zài zhōu , yì kě fù zhōu in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 水可载舟,亦可覆舟 literally mean?

Literally, 水可载舟,亦可覆舟 means “Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it”. It is used to mean “What can sustain can also destroy”.

What is the Chinese definition of 水可载舟,亦可覆舟?

比喻在平时要想到可能发生的困难和危险。

Hanzi Now

Explore the charm of Chinese language

Explore

  • Characters
  • Idioms
  • Chinese Names
  • Flashcards

Tools

  • Chinese Text Image Generator
  • Stroke Order Animator
  • Character Highlight Animator
  • Bingo Cards
  • Picture Worksheets
  • All Tools

More

  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
© 2026 Hanzi NowContact Us