塞翁失马安知非福 sài wēng shī mǎ ān zhī fēi fú

a blessing in disguise; bad luck may be good

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. the old man lost his mare, but it all turned out for the best (idiom); fig. a blessing in disguise
  2. 2. also written 塞翁失馬焉知非福sài wēng shī mǎ yān zhī fēi fú
  3. 3. it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good

Characters

Character Meaning
塞 sài HSK 6
to stuff; to stop up; to squeeze in
翁 wēng
elderly man; surname Weng; father-in-law
失 shī HSK 4
to lose; to miss; to fail
马 mǎ HSK 3
horse; surname Ma
安 ān HSK 3
safe; secure; safety
知 zhī HSK 2
to know; to be aware
非 fēi HSK 2
not; to not be; non-
福 fú HSK 4
good fortune; luck; happiness