破茧成蝶 pò jiǎn chéng dié

fig. to emerge strong after a period of struggle

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. to emerge strong after a period of struggle
  2. 2. to get to a better place after going through difficult period
  3. 3. lit. to break through a cocoon and turn into a butterfly (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
破 pò HSK 4
broken; to break, split or cleave; damaged
茧 jiǎn
cocoon; callus; variant of 繭jiǎn
成 chéng HSK 3
to become; to succeed; to complete
蝶 dié HSK 5
butterfly; variant of 蝶dié