疾风知劲草 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
风 fēng
HSK 3
wind; air; manners, atmosphere
知 zhī
HSK 2
know, perceive, comprehend
劲 jìng
HSK 5
strong, unyielding, tough, power
草 cǎo
HSK 3
grass, straw, thatch, herbs