牡丹雖好，終須綠葉扶持 mǔ dan suī hǎo ， zhōng xū lǜ yè fú chí

even the great need help; success needs support

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
雖 suī
although; even though
好 hǎo HSK 1
good; well; very
終 zhōng
end; finish
須 xū
must; to have to; beard
綠 lǜ
green
葉 yè
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