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). It is Confucius's metaphor for steadfastness under adversity, later shortened into 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.
