疾風知勁草,烈火見真金 jí fēng zhī jìn cǎo , liè huǒ jiàn zhēn jīn

DEFINITIONS

  1. the storm put strong grass to the test, fire tests true gold (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
知 zhī know, perceive, comprehend
勁 jìn strong, unyielding, tough, powerful
草 cǎo grass, straw, thatch, herbs
烈 liè fiery, violent, vehement, ardent
火 huǒ fire, flame; burn; anger, rage
見 jiàn see, observe, behold; perceive
真 zhēn real, actual, true, genuine
金 jīn gold; metals in general; money