吃得苦中苦，方为人上人 chī dé kǔ zhōng kǔ ， fāng wéi rén shàng rén

DEFINITIONS

  1. one cannot achieve glory and wealth without having been through trials and tribulations (proverb)
  2. no pain, no gain

CHARACTERS

吃 chī
HSK 1
eat; drink; suffer, endure, bear
得 dé
HSK 2
obtain, get, gain, acquire
苦 kǔ
HSK 4
bitter; hardship, suffering
中 zhōng
HSK 1
central; center, middle; in the midst of; hit (target); attain
苦 kǔ
HSK 4
bitter; hardship, suffering
方 fāng
HSK 3
a square, rectangle; a region; local
为 wéi
HSK 2
do, handle, govern, act; be
人 rén
HSK 1
man; people; mankind; someone else
上 shàng
HSK 1
top; superior, highest; go up, send up
人 rén
HSK 1
man; people; mankind; someone else