單絲不成線，獨木不成林 dān sī bù chéng xiàn ， dú mù bù chéng lín

cannot succeed alone; need to work together

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. one strand does not make a thread, one tree does not make a forest (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
單 dān
single; only; sole
絲 sī
silk; thread; trace
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
成 chéng HSK 3
to become; to succeed; to complete
線 xiàn
line; wire; thread
獨 dú
alone; only; independent
木 mù HSK 5
tree; wood; wooden
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
成 chéng HSK 3
to become; to succeed; to complete
林 lín HSK 4
woods; forest; surname Lin