如人饮水，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
HSK 3
if, supposing; as if; like, as
人 rén
HSK 1
man; people; mankind; someone else
饮 yǐn
HSK 3
drink; swallow; kind of drink
水 shuǐ
HSK 1
water, liquid, lotion, juice
冷 lěng
HSK 1
cold, cool; lonely
暖 nuǎn
HSK 4
warm, genial
自 zì
HSK 3
self, private, personal; from
知 zhī
HSK 2
know, perceive, comprehend