<p>俗语 is often used for adages that aren't necessarily as literary and high-brow as 成语, colloquial proverbs if you will. Not sure if that's what you're looking for in this context. I doubt there is a one-to-one equivalence for "old wives tales" in Chinese.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-20T19:59:18.917Z
2014-06-20T19:59:18.917Z
Martin Svanberg
<p>I'm not sure we have a saying for "old wives tales".
For the ones that works we call them 偏方 (Folk prescription), others are considered as 流言, 谣言 (rumor), 伪科学 (pseudoscience).</p>

<p>One of such saying is that you cannot wash your hair during menstrual period.
Another is that you cannot eat certain food (e.g., orange and seafood) together, otherwise they'll become toxic.</p>

<p>You can find many of them <a href="http://www.guokr.com/group/40/" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Though it includes not only Chinese stories.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-20T15:06:13.087Z
2014-06-20T15:06:13.087Z
lgylym
<p>A long time ago I heard someone say:</p>

<p>"玩火会尿床"</p>

<p>Which I instantly recognized is very similar to some 'old wives tales' in English. In English there are things like:</p>

<p>from Wikipedia:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Cracking knuckles gives arthritis.</p>
  
  <p>Don't go outside with wet hair or you will catch a cold.</p>
  
  <p>Don't swallow gum or it will stay in your stomach for seven years.</p>
  
  <p>Don't make silly faces or it will make the silly face permanent.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>"Don't play with fire or you will wet the bed," seems pretty similar, no?</p>

<p>Questions:</p>

<p>What are Old Wives Tales called in Chinese?</p>

<p>Where can I find a list of similar Chinese old wives tales?</p>

<p>Or </p>

<p>What are some common Chinese old wives tales?</p>

<phrase>
Chinese: Old Wives Tales
# Chinese: Old Wives Tales

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-06-20)

A long time ago I heard someone say:

"玩火会尿床"

Which I instantly recognized is very similar to some 'old wives tales' in English. In English there are things like:

from Wikipedia:

> Cracking knuckles gives arthritis.
>
> Don't go outside with wet hair or you will catch a cold.
>
> Don't swallow gum or it will stay in your stomach for seven years.
>
> Don't make silly faces or it will make the silly face permanent.

"Don't play with fire or you will wet the bed," seems pretty similar, no?

Questions:

What are Old Wives Tales called in Chinese?

Where can I find a list of similar Chinese old wives tales?

Or

What are some common Chinese old wives tales?

**Tags:** phrase


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-06-20. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

I'm not sure we have a saying for "old wives tales".
For the ones that works we call them 偏方 (Folk prescription), others are considered as 流言, 谣言 (rumor), 伪科学 (pseudoscience).

One of such saying is that you cannot wash your hair during menstrual period.
Another is that you cannot eat certain food (e.g., orange and seafood) together, otherwise they'll become toxic.

You can find many of them [here](http://www.guokr.com/group/40/). Though it includes not only Chinese stories.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2014-06-20. Score: 2

俗语 is often used for adages that aren't necessarily as literary and high-brow as 成语, colloquial proverbs if you will. Not sure if that's what you're looking for in this context. I doubt there is a one-to-one equivalence for "old wives tales" in Chinese.


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