疾风知劲草，烈火见真金 jí fēng zhī jìn cǎo ， liè huǒ jiàn zhēn jīn

to show one's true colors after a stern test

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

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

Characters

Character Meaning
疾 jí HSK 6
disease; sickness; swift
风 fēng HSK 3
wind; style; manner
知 zhī HSK 2
to know; to be aware
劲 jìn HSK 5
strength; energy; spirit
草 cǎo HSK 3
grass; careless; rough
烈 liè HSK 5
intense; fierce; ardent
火 huǒ HSK 2
fire; hot (popular); fiery or flaming
见 jiàn HSK 1
to see; to meet; to appear (to be sth)
真 zhēn HSK 2
real; true; really
金 jīn HSK 4
gold; money; golden