Nìng tiāo qiān jīn dàn; bù bào ròu gēda.

寧挑千斤擔, 不抱肉疙瘩。

Lit It is easier to carry a thousand catties [of stuff] than to hold a “precious lump of flesh” in one's arms.

Fig Holding a (squirming) baby is more difficult than carrying a load of heavy things.

Note [Cf. Wǔ Sōng, chap. 7; note: literally, one jīn or “catty” is equal to one-half kilogram, but qiānjīn is figuratively taken to mean “a ton; a great weight.”]

Topics BABIES catty COMPARISON DIFFICULTY qiānjīn (wt.) Wǔ_Sōng