| 流水不腐，户枢不蠹 |
liú shuǐ bù fǔ , hù shū bù dù |
lit. flowing water does not rot, nor a door-hinge rust (idiom) / fig. constant activity prevents decay |
| 流 |
liú |
to flow / to disseminate / to circulate or spread / to move or drift / to degenerate / to banish or send into exile / stream of water or sth resembling one / class, rate or grade |
| 流水 |
liú shuǐ |
running water / (business) turnover |
| 流水不腐 |
liú shuǐ bù fǔ |
flowing water does not rot |
| 水 |
Shuǐ |
surname Shui |
| 水 |
shuǐ |
water / (after a name) ... River / to swim (used mostly in 会水 and 水性) / (coll.) lacking in substance; shoddy / (bound form) additional cost; extra income / classifier for washings of a garment |
| 不 |
bù |
no; not so / (bound form) not; un- |
| 腐 |
fǔ |
decay / rotten |
| 户 |
hù |
a household / door / family |
| 户枢不蠹 |
hù shū bù dù |
lit. a door hinge never becomes worm-eaten / constant activity prevents decay (idiom) |
| 枢 |
shū |
(bound form) hinge; pivot (usu. fig.) |
| 不 |
bù |
no; not so / (bound form) not; un- |
| 蠹 |
dù |
insect that eats into books, clothing etc / moth-eaten / worm-eaten |