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