塞翁失马焉知非福 sài wēng shī mǎ yān zhī fēi fú

a loss may bring good; a blessing in disguise

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. 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
焉 yān
where; how
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