岁寒知松柏

歲寒知松柏

suìhánzhīsōngbǎi

phrase

Meanings

1 in the cold of winter one recognizes the pine and cypress
2 hard times reveal true character

Characters

to know; to recognize

Examples

公司最困难的时候，才真正岁寒知松柏，看清谁是战友。

Gōngsī zuì kùnnán de shíhòu, cái zhēnzhèng suì hán zhī sōng bǎi, kànqīng shéi shì zhànyǒu.

In the company's darkest hour, we finally saw who the true allies were — as the saying goes, 'winter reveals the pine.'

岁寒知松柏，患难见真情。

Suì hán zhī sōng bǎi, huànnàn jiàn zhēnqíng.

Winter reveals the pine; hardship reveals true feeling.

Tips

history

Adapted from 《论语·子罕》: 岁寒，然后知松柏之后凋也 — 'only when the year turns cold do we know the pine and cypress wither last.' Confucius's metaphor for steadfastness under adversity. The shortened four-five character form became a proverb.

usage

柏 here is bǎi (cypress), not bó. Often paired with 患难见真情 in speech. The fuller original 岁寒然后知松柏之后凋 is more formal; 岁寒知松柏 is the common form.

Stroke Order

岁 suì

寒 hán

知 zhī

松 sōng

柏 bǎi