Qī shān, mò qī shuǐ; qī shuǐ, biàn shuǐ guǐ.

欺山莫欺水, 欺水變水鬼。

Lit [Better to] fool around with mountains than to fool around with water; [if one] fools around with water, [one may] become a “drowned ghost.”

Fig Although in nature water (courses) may not appear as imposing as mountains are, in fact if (hydraulics are) not handled correctly, water can be extremely dangerous to people.

Note [Here qī, (lit) “to cheat” or “to bully,” means “to fool around with.”]

Topics HYDRAULICS WATER