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
HSK 6
illness, disease, sickness; to hate
風 fēng wind; air; manners, atmosphere
知 zhī
HSK 2
know, perceive, comprehend
勁 jìn strong, unyielding, tough, powerful
草 cǎo
HSK 3
grass, straw, thatch, herbs
烈 liè
HSK 5
fiery, violent, vehement, ardent
火 huǒ
HSK 2
fire, flame; burn; anger, rage
見 jiàn see, observe, behold; perceive
真 zhēn
HSK 2
real, actual, true, genuine
金 jīn
HSK 4
gold; metals in general; money