人往高处走，水往低处流 rén wǎng gāo chù zǒu ， shuǐ wǎng dī chù liú

DEFINITIONS

  1. man seeks his way up just as water seeks its way down (idiom)
  2. one should constantly strive to make progress

CHARACTERS

人 rén
HSK 1
man; people; mankind; someone else
往 wǎng
HSK 2
go, depart; past, formerly
高 gāo
HSK 1
high, tall; lofty, elevated
处 chù
HSK 4
place, locale; department
走 zǒu
HSK 2
walk, go on foot; run; leave
水 shuǐ
HSK 1
water, liquid, lotion, juice
往 wǎng
HSK 2
go, depart; past, formerly
低 dī
HSK 4
low; to lower, hang, bend, bow
处 chù
HSK 4
place, locale; department
流 liú
HSK 4
flow, circulate, drift; class