<p><em>穷则变，变则通</em></p>

<p><strong>ABC</strong> </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Impasse is followed by change, and change will lead to a solution.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>Grand Ricci</strong></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>(provr.) Quand on est à bout, on change, dès que l’on a changé, on aboutit : dès qu’un changement s’est amorçé, une solution peut voir le jour. De tout s’avise à qui pain faut; nécessité est mère d’industrie, d’invention.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The last part is quite sums it up in quite a nice succienct way: <em>necessity is the mother of invention</em>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-20T06:04:56.537Z
2015-11-20T07:02:54.163Z
2015-11-20T07:02:54.163Z
Mou某
<p>Poverty demands change, change carries development and permanence follows development.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-20T05:24:58.010Z
I don't think translate “穷” into "poverty" is appropriate...
Zhanxiong
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-20T05:27:24.377Z
What about exhaustion?
John
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-20T05:57:26.427Z
I think 穷 means 困境 here.
thinwa
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-20T13:30:30.290Z
English explanation at http://www.ichacha.net/%E7%A9%B7%E5%88%99%E5%8F%98.html （containing most of above）
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-20T05:21:23.103Z
2015-11-20T05:21:23.103Z
John
<p>Change overcomes impasse and leads to solution.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-13T05:43:48.547Z
2018-06-13T05:43:48.547Z
Guest translator
<p>“穷则变，变则通，通则久” is just the poetic way of saying "变通".</p>

<p>"变通" means be flexible and improvise. Direct translation of each character means; "变" to change, "通" to get through (the problem).</p>

<p>Poetic translation:
When you are poor (穷) in resources, you will need to innovate with changes (变). Once you got through (通) the problem, your changes will last (久).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-14T04:02:49.073Z
2017-10-14T04:02:49.073Z
Fong Kah Chun
<p>Is there any elegant and succinct way to translate “穷则变，变则通，通则久” to English? I felt the translation could be quite lengthy when I tried to explain every single character. Thank you very much. </p>

<translation>
How to translate “穷则变，变则通，通则久” to English?
# How to translate “穷则变，变则通，通则久” to English?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-11-20)

Is there any elegant and succinct way to translate “穷则变，变则通，通则久” to English? I felt the translation could be quite lengthy when I tried to explain every single character. Thank you very much.

**Tags:** translation

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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-11-20. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

*穷则变，变则通*

**ABC**

> Impasse is followed by change, and change will lead to a solution.

**Grand Ricci**

> (provr.) Quand on est à bout, on change, dès que l’on a changé, on aboutit : dès qu’un changement s’est amorçé, une solution peut voir le jour. De tout s’avise à qui pain faut; nécessité est mère d’industrie, d’invention.

The last part is quite sums it up in quite a nice succienct way: *necessity is the mother of invention*.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2015-11-20. Score: 0

Poverty demands change, change carries development and permanence follows development.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I don't think translate “穷” into "poverty" is appropriate...  
> **username_2**: What about exhaustion?  
> **username_3**: I think 穷 means 困境 here.  
> **username_4**: English explanation at http://www.ichacha.net/%E7%A9%B7%E5%88%99%E5%8F%98.html （containing most of above）  

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### Answer by username_5 on 2018-06-13. Score: 0

Change overcomes impasse and leads to solution.


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### Answer by username_6 on 2017-10-14. Score: 0

“穷则变，变则通，通则久” is just the poetic way of saying "变通".

"变通" means be flexible and improvise. Direct translation of each character means; "变" to change, "通" to get through (the problem).

Poetic translation:
When you are poor (穷) in resources, you will need to innovate with changes (变). Once you got through (通) the problem, your changes will last (久).


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