Rén duō, hǎo zhòngtián; rén shǎo, hǎo guònián.

人多好種田, 人少好過年。

Lit Many people are better for planting fields, [but] fewer people [to feed] are better at [Chinese] New Year's.

Fig Many hands make the farming work lighter, but fewer mouths to feed make life easier.

Note [Rhyme; note: guò niánguān, “to settle all one's outstanding debts by the end of the year.”]

Topics AGRICULTURE FARMING OVERPOPULATION WORK