牡丹虽好，全凭绿叶扶持 mǔ dan suī hǎo ， quán píng lǜ yè fú chí

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
凭 píng
HSK 5
lean on, depend on, rely on
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
持 chí
HSK 4
sustain, support; hold, grasp