前人栽樹，後人乘涼 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
HSK 1
in front, forward; preceding
人 rén
HSK 1
man; people; mankind; someone else
栽 zāi
HSK 6
to cultivate, plant; to care for plants
樹 shù tree; plant; set up, establish
後 hòu behind, rear, after; descendents
人 rén
HSK 1
man; people; mankind; someone else
乘 chéng
HSK 4
ride, ascend; avail oneself of; numerary adjunct for vehicles
涼 liáng cool, cold; disheartened