常在河邊走，哪有不濕鞋 cháng zài hé biān zǒu ， nǎ yǒu bù shī xié

DEFINITIONS

  1. a person who regularly walks by the river cannot avoid getting their shoes wet (proverb)
  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

常 cháng
HSK 2
common, normal, frequent, regular
在 zài
HSK 1
be at, in, on; consist in, rest
河 hé
HSK 3
river; stream; yellow river
邊 biān edge, margin, side, border
走 zǒu
HSK 2
walk, go on foot; run; leave
哪 nǎ
HSK 1
which? where? how?
有 yǒu
HSK 1
have, own, possess; exist
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
濕 shī wet, moist, humid, damp; an illness
鞋 xié
HSK 3
shoes, footwear in general