Jiā lěi qiānjīn, zuò bù chuí táng.

Lit [Those whose] families [have] accumulated a lot of money never sit under eaves [where they might be hit by falling tiles].

Fig Wealthy people are (able to be) more cautious about their own safety.

Note [Cf. Shǐ Jì: Sīmǎ Xiàngrú Lièzhuàn; note: qiānjīn, (lit) “[a] thousand [ounces of] gold,” is a metaphor for “a lot of money”; zuòbùchuítáng is a set phrase meaning “stay of harm's way”; see also guìrén bù tà xiǎndì above.]

Topics CAUTION qiānjīn (gold) SAFETY Shǐ Jì Sīmǎ Xiàngrú Lièzhuàn SOCIAL CLASS WEALTH zuòbùchuítáng