牡丹虽好，全仗绿叶扶 mǔ dan suī hǎo ， quán zhàng lǜ yè fú

DEFINITIONS

  1. Although the peony is beautiful, it depends entirely on help from the green leaves (idiom). However brilliant you may be, you can't do anything without support from others.

CHARACTERS

牡 mǔ male of animals; bolt of door
丹 dan cinnabar (native HgS); vermilion (artificial HgS used as pigment)
虽 suī
HSK 2
although, even if
好 hǎo
HSK 1
good, excellent, fine; well
全 quán
HSK 4
maintain, keep whole or intact
仗 zhàng
HSK 6
rely upon; protector; fight; war, weaponry
绿 lǜ
HSK 3
green; chlorine
叶 yè
HSK 4
to harmonize, to rhyme; to unite; (borrowed for) leaf
扶 fú
HSK 5
support, help; protect; hold on