前人栽树,后人乘凉 qián rén zāi shù , hòu rén chéng liáng

DEFINITIONS

  1. to enjoy the benefits of the hard work of one's predecessors. (idiom)

CHARACTERS

前 qián in front, forward; preceding
人 rén man; people; mankind; someone else
栽 zāi to cultivate, plant; to care for plants
树 shù tree; plant; set up, establish
后 hòu queen, empress, sovereign; (simp. for 後) behind, rear, after
人 rén man; people; mankind; someone else
乘 chéng ride, ascend; avail oneself of; numerary adjunct for vehicles
凉 liáng cool, cold; disheartened