疾風勁草 jí fēng jìng cǎo

DEFINITIONS

  1. the storm put strong grass to the test (idiom); fig. troubled times test a faithful minister
  2. to show one's true colors after a stern test

CHARACTERS

疾 jí illness, disease, sickness; to hate
風 fēng wind; air; manners, atmosphere
勁 jìng strong, unyielding, tough, powerful
草 cǎo grass, straw, thatch, herbs