常在河边走，哪有不湿鞋 cháng zài hé biān zǒu ， nǎ yǒu bù shī xié

often take risks, can't avoid trouble

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. a person who regularly walks by the river cannot avoid getting their shoes wet (proverb)
  2. 2. (fig.) it comes with the territory (e.g. a person with the power to grant favors will inevitably succumb to temptation and take a bribe)

Characters

Character Meaning
常 cháng HSK 2
often; frequently; always
在 zài HSK 1
(located) at; (to be) in
河 hé HSK 3
river
边 biān HSK 2
side; edge; border
走 zǒu HSK 2
to go; to walk; to leave
哪 nǎ HSK 1
which; how
有 yǒu HSK 1
to have; there is; there are
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
湿 shī HSK 5
wet; moist; variant of 濕shī
鞋 xié HSK 3
shoe; variant of 鞋xié