| 塞翁失马焉知非福 |
sài wēng shī mǎ yān zhī fēi fú |
the old man lost his mare, but it all turned out for the best (idiom); fig. a blessing in disguise / it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good |
| 塞 |
sāi |
to plug; to stop up; to stuff in / (bound form) a stopper; a cork |
| 塞 |
sài |
(bound form) strategic stronghold |
| 塞 |
sè |
(bound form) to block; to obstruct |
| 塞翁失马 |
sài wēng shī mǎ |
lit. the old man lost his horse, but it all turned out for the best (idiom) / fig. a blessing in disguise / it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good |
| 翁 |
Wēng |
surname Weng |
| 翁 |
wēng |
elderly man / father / father-in-law / neck feathers of a bird (old) |
| 失 |
shī |
to lose / to miss / to fail |
| 马 |
Mǎ |
surname Ma / abbr. for Malaysia 马来西亚 |
| 马 |
mǎ |
horse / CL:匹 / horse or cavalry piece in Chinese chess / knight in Western chess |
| 焉 |
yān |
where / how |
| 焉知 |
yān zhī |
(literary) how is one to know? |
| 知 |
zhī |
to know / to be aware |
| 非 |
Fēi |
abbr. for 非洲, Africa |
| 非 |
fēi |
to not be; not / wrong; incorrect / non-; un-; in-; de- / to reproach; to blame / (coll.) to insist on; simply must |
| 福 |
Fú |
surname Fu / abbr. for Fujian province 福建省 |
| 福 |
fú |
good fortune / happiness / luck |