疾風知勁草 jí fēng zhī 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
  3. also written 疾風勁草|疾风劲草

CHARACTERS

疾 jí
HSK 6
illness, disease, sickness; to hate
風 fēng wind; air; manners, atmosphere
知 zhī
HSK 2
know, perceive, comprehend
勁 jìng strong, unyielding, tough, powerful
草 cǎo
HSK 3
grass, straw, thatch, herbs