疾风知劲草，烈火见真金 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
风 fēng
HSK 3
wind; air; manners, atmosphere
知 zhī
HSK 2
know, perceive, comprehend
劲 jìn
HSK 5
strong, unyielding, tough, power
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
见 jiàn
HSK 1
see, observe, behold; perceive
真 zhēn
HSK 2
real, actual, true, genuine
金 jīn
HSK 4
gold; metals in general; money