Chinese characters and pinyin
Simplified: 一日之计在于晨，一年之计在于春
Traditional: 一日之計在於晨，一年之計在於春
Pinyin: yí rì zhī jì zài yú chén, yì nián zhī jì zài yú chūn
Literal translation
The plan for a day lies in the morning; the plan for a year lies in spring.
Natural English meaning
A strong beginning and timely planning shape the success of a longer period.
Closest English equivalent
Well begun is half done.
The Chinese proverb ties planning to natural cycles of morning and spring.
When to use it
Use it for early preparation, routines, or New Year planning.
When not to use it
A late start can still be recovered; the saying is encouragement, not fatalism.
Example sentence
早点安排今天的任务，一日之计在于晨。
Plan the day early; a good beginning shapes what follows.
Origin and cultural context
A traditional agricultural and household maxim reflecting daily and seasonal rhythms.
Classification: proverb. This label distinguishes a complete proverb or popular saying from a compact idiom or a quotation preserved from a classical text.
