無心插柳柳成陰 wú xīn chā liǔ liǔ chéng yīn

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. idly poke a stick in the mud and it grows into a tree to shade you
  2. (fig.) unintentional actions may bring unexpected success
  3. also written 無心插柳柳成蔭|无心插柳柳成荫

CHARACTERS

無 wú negative, no, not; lack, have no
心 xīn
HSK 3
heart; mind, intelligence; soul
插 chā
HSK 5
insert, stick into; plant
柳 liǔ willow tree; pleasure
柳 liǔ willow tree; pleasure
成 chéng
HSK 3
completed, finished, fixed
陰 yīn 'female' principle; dark; secret