出淤泥而不染 chū yū ní ér bù rǎn

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. to grow out of the mud unsullied (idiom)
  2. fig. to be principled and incorruptible

CHARACTERS

出 chū
HSK 1
go out, send out; stand; produce
淤 yū mud, sediment; clog up, silt up
泥 ní
HSK 6
mud, mire; earth, clay; plaster
而 ér
HSK 3
and; and then; and yet; but
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
染 rǎn
HSK 4
dye; be contagious; infect