lou6 jiu4 zi1 maa5 lik6 ，jat6 gau2 gin3 jan4 sam1路遙知馬力，日久見人心路遥知马力，日久见人心
Jyutpinglou6 jiu4 zi1 maa5 lik6 ，jat6 gau2 gin3 jan4 sam1
Yalelouh yìuh jī máh lihk ，jaht gáu gin yàhn sām
Definition
As distance tests a horse's strength, so time reveals a person's character.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This proverb is frequently used to comfort someone who has been betrayed or to advise patience when evaluating a new acquaintance. It emphasizes that character is not revealed through immediate actions but through consistent behavior over a long period. It is a classic piece of wisdom often cited in both formal and casual settings to justify giving people time to prove their loyalty or integrity.
Examples
lou6路jiu4遙zi1知maa5馬lik6力，jat6日gau2久gin3見jan4人sam1心，nei5你maan6慢maan2慢zau6就wui2會zi1知keoi5佢hai6係me1咩jan4人。
Time reveals a person's true character; you will eventually know what kind of person they are.
keoi5佢seoi1雖jin4然ping4平si4時m4唔do1多gong2講je5嘢，daan6但lou6路jiu4遙zi1知maa5馬lik6力，jat6日gau2久gin3見jan4人sam1心，keoi5佢kei4其sat6實hou2好ho2可kaau3靠。
He doesn't talk much, but time shows his true character, and he is actually very reliable.
Related words
Common phrases
time reveals a person's heart
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
