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

DEFINITIONS

  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. Repent and ye shall be saved!

CHARACTERS

苦 kǔ
HSK 4
bitter; hardship, suffering
海 hǎi
HSK 4
sea, ocean; maritime
無 wú negative, no, not; lack, have no
邊 biān edge, margin, side, border
回 huí
HSK 1
return, turn around; a time
頭 tóu head; top; chief, first; boss
是 shì
HSK 1
indeed, yes, right; to be; demonstrative pronoun, this, that
岸 àn
HSK 5
bank, shore; beach, coast