生于忧患，死于安乐 shēng yú yōu huàn ， sǐ yú ān lè

DEFINITIONS

  1. to thrive in calamity and perish in soft living (idiom)
  2. life springs from sorrow and calamity, death comes from ease and pleasure

CHARACTERS

生 shēng
HSK 1
life, living, lifetime; birth
于 yú
HSK 3
in, on, at; go to; surname
忧 yōu
HSK 6
sad, grieved; grief, melancholy
患 huàn
HSK 6
suffer, worry about; suffering
死 sǐ
HSK 4
die; dead; death
于 yú
HSK 3
in, on, at; go to; surname
安 ān
HSK 3
peaceful, tranquil, quiet
乐 lè
HSK 2
happy, glad; enjoyable; music