好雨知时节

好雨知時節

hǎo yǔ zhī shíjié

quotation

Meanings

1 a good rain knows its proper season
2 the right thing arriving at just the right moment

Characters

season, juncture

Examples

HSK 6

老师在我最迷茫时出现，真是好雨知时节。

Lǎoshī zài wǒ zuì mímáng shí chūxiàn, zhēnshì hǎo yǔ zhī shíjié.

The teacher appeared at my most confused moment - truly like a good rain that knows its season.

HSK 7-9

真是好雨知时节，这场雨刚好赶上春耕。

Zhēnshì hǎo yǔ zhī shíjié, zhè chǎng yǔ gānghǎo gǎnshàng chūngēng.

Truly a good rain knows its season - this shower arrived right in time for spring planting.

Tips

history

Opening line of 杜甫's 《春夜喜雨》 (Tang): 'The good rain knows its season, arriving when spring comes; it slips into the night on the wind, moistening all things silently.' Written in Chengdu during a calm, fruitful period of 杜甫's life.

usage

Commonly used figuratively for any well-timed help, policy, or arrival. 时节 = season / the right moment.

Stroke Order

好 hǎo

雨 yǔ

知 zhī

时 shí

节 jié