流水不腐，戶樞不蠹 liú shuǐ bù fǔ ， hù shū bù dù

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. flowing water does not rot, nor a door-hinge rust (idiom)
  2. fig. constant activity prevents decay

CHARACTERS

流 liú
HSK 4
flow, circulate, drift; class
水 shuǐ
HSK 1
water, liquid, lotion, juice
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
腐 fǔ
HSK 5
rot, decay, spoil; rotten
戶 hù door; family, household
樞 shū door hinge; pivot; center of power
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
蠹 dù moth; insects which eat into clot