苦海無邊，回頭是岸 kǔ hǎi wú biān ， huí tóu shì àn

endless suffering, turn back to be saved

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. The sea of bitterness has no bounds, turn your head to see the shore (idiom). Only Buddhist enlightenment can allow one to shed off the abyss of worldly suffering.
  2. 2. Repent and ye shall be saved!

Characters

Character Meaning
苦 kǔ HSK 4
bitter; to suffer; hardship
海 hǎi HSK 4
ocean; sea; great number of people or things
無 wú
not; no; not to have
邊 biān
side; edge; border
回 huí HSK 1
to go back; to return; to turn around
頭 tóu
head; the top; end
是 shì HSK 1
to be; is; are
岸 àn HSK 5
shore; bank; coast