Tiếng Việt · Proverb Candidate

phi thương,bất phú

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: phi thương bất phú

Sense 1

Meaning · English

It is necessary to take risks in order to achieve something.

Literally: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Where it’s used: Used Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora

Sources & notes

Imported from Wikiquote: Vietnamese proverbs (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29), pending review. Sources cited there: Silk for Silver: Dutch-Vietnamese Relations, 1637-1700 (2007).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Vietnamese idiom; English definition pending editorial review.

Where it’s used: Used Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora

Sources & notes

Listed on Vietnamese Wikiquote “Thành ngữ Việt Nam” (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-31); definition pending editorial review.

Equivalents & related

Near equivalent nothing ventured, nothing gained Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review. English

Common questions

What does “phi thương,bất phú” mean?

It is necessary to take risks in order to achieve something. Literally: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Is “phi thương,bất phú” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

What is the closest equivalent?

“nothing ventured, nothing gained” (English) — near equivalent.