三十年河东，三十年河西 sān shí nián hé dōng ， sān shí nián hé xī

change is the only constant

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. change is the only constant
  2. 2. the river flows thirty years to the East, thirty years to the West (proverb)

Characters

Character Meaning
三 sān HSK 1
three; 3; surname San
十 shí HSK 1
ten; 10
年 nián HSK 1
year; grain; harvest (old)
河 hé HSK 3
river
东 dōng HSK 1
east; surname Dong
三 sān HSK 1
three; 3; surname San
十 shí HSK 1
ten; 10
年 nián HSK 1
year; grain; harvest (old)
河 hé HSK 3
river
西 xī HSK 1
west; the West; abbr. for Spain 西班牙xī bān yá