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

talent needs support; no one succeeds alone

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 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

Character Meaning
牡 mǔ
(of a bird, animal or plant) male; key; hills
丹 dan
red; cinnabar; powder
虽 suī HSK 2
although; even though
好 hǎo HSK 1
good; well; very
全 quán HSK 4
all; whole; entire
凭 píng HSK 5
to rely on; on the basis of; no matter (how, what etc)
绿 lǜ HSK 3
green
叶 yè HSK 4
leaf; surname Ye; page
扶 fú HSK 5
to support with the hand; to help; to help sb up
持 chí HSK 4
to hold; to maintain; to persevere