如人飲水,冷暖自知 rú rén yǐn shuǐ , lěng nuǎn zì zhī

DEFINITIONS

  1. the person who drinks it knows best whether the water is hot or cold (Zen proverb); self-awareness comes from within
  2. to know best by personal experience

CHARACTERS

如 rú if, supposing; as if; like, as
人 rén man; people; mankind; someone else
飲 yǐn drink; swallow; kind of drink
水 shuǐ water, liquid, lotion, juice
冷 lěng cold, cool; lonely
暖 nuǎn warm, genial
自 zì self, private, personal; from
知 zhī know, perceive, comprehend