毛出在羊身上 máo chū zài yáng shēn shàng

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. wool comes from the sheep's back (idiom); One gets the benefit, but the price has been paid.
  2. Nothing comes for free.

CHARACTERS

毛 máo hair, fur, feathers; coarse
出 chū go out, send out; stand; produce
在 zài be at, in, on; consist in, rest
羊 yáng sheep, goat; KangXi radical 123
身 shēn body; trunk, hull; rad. no. 158
上 shàng top; superior, highest; go up, send up