Dictionary › 水能载舟，亦能覆舟

水能载舟，亦能覆舟

shuǐ néng zài zhōu , yì néng fù zhōu

9-character word Traditional 水能載舟，亦能覆舟

What 水能载舟，亦能覆舟 means

1. lit. water may keep the boat afloat but may also sink it (proverb)
2. fig. the people can support a regime or overturn it
3. if sth is used properly, one can benefit from it, otherwise it can do harm
4. things can be double-edged

The characters in 水能载舟，亦能覆舟

• 水shuǐwater; (after a name) ... River; to swim (used mostly in 会水
• 能néngcan; to be able to; might possibly
• 载zǎito record in writing; to carry (i.e. publish in a newspaper etc); Taiwan pr. zài
• 舟zhōuboat
• 亦yìalso
• 能néngcan; to be able to; might possibly
• 覆fùto cover; to overflow; to overturn
• 舟zhōuboat