牡丹虽好，终须绿叶扶持 mǔ dan suī hǎo ， zhōng xū lǜ yè fú chí

the gifted still need help from others

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
终 zhōng HSK 3
end; finish
须 xū HSK 3
must; to have to; beard
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