北叟失馬 běi sǒu shī mǎ

fig. a blessing in disguise

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. a blessing in disguise
  2. 2. lit. the old man lost his horse, but it all turned out for the best (idiom)
  3. 3. it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good

Characters

Character Meaning
北 běi HSK 1
north; (classical) to be defeated
叟 sǒu
old man; old gentleman
失 shī HSK 4
to lose; to miss; to fail
馬 mǎ
horse; surname Ma