Meaning
一切会过去
yī qiè huì guò qù
This too shall pass
- 一
- one, all
- 切
- all
- 会
- will
- 过
- to pass
- 去
- to go
Five characters: everything will pass.
This Too Shall Pass in Chinese
The Chinese word for this too shall pass is 一切会过去 (yī qiè huì guò qù). Five characters: everything will pass. In traditional characters it is written 一切會過去.
一切会过去
yī qiè huì guò qù
This Too Shall Pass
What 一切会过去 means.
The full everyday sentence is 一切都会过去 (six characters); for art it is usually shortened to 一切会过去. Both mean “everything will pass”, the same comfort as the English proverb.
- 一
- one, all
- 切
- all
- 会
- will
- 过
- to pass
- 去
- to go
Simplified and traditional
一切会过去
一切會過去
Both are correct and mean the same. Traditional 一切會過去 keeps the older, fuller shape that calligraphy grew up with; simplified 一切会过去 is what most Chinese readers use today. Our seal and clerical styles write it in the traditional form.
Pick the shade of meaning.
Chinese often has more than one word where English has one. Here is how they differ.
Meaning
终将过去
zhōng jiāng guò qù
In the end it will pass
- 终
- in the end
- 将
- will
- 过
- to pass
- 去
- to go
A shorter, more literary four-character version.
About this too shall pass in Chinese
How do you write this too shall pass in Chinese?
This Too Shall Pass is 一切会过去 in Chinese, pronounced yī qiè huì guò qù. This too shall pass 一 means “one, all”, 切 means “all”, 会 means “will”, 过 means “to pass”, 去 means “to go”.
How do you pronounce 一切会过去?
Say yī (first tone, high and level), qiè (fourth tone, falling), huì (fourth tone, falling), guò (fourth tone, falling), qù (fourth tone, falling). Mandarin tones change meaning, so it is worth listening to a native speaker once.
Is 一切会过去 different in traditional Chinese?
Yes. The traditional form is 一切會過去, used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and classical calligraphy; 一切会过去 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore. Both are correct.
What other Chinese words mean this too shall pass?
终将过去 (zhōng jiāng guò qù): In the end it will pass A shorter, more literary four-character version.
Is 一切会过去 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes, it is a real, everyday Chinese word rather than a machine translation, so Chinese readers will understand it. Keep the characters in their order, top to bottom or left to right, and never mirrored. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.