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饮水思源

飲水思源
yǐnshuǐsīyuán
idiom #60,965

Meanings

  1. 1 when drinking water, think of its source
  2. 2 to remember where one's blessings come from
  3. 3 to be grateful for one's roots

Examples

做人要饮水思源，不能忘了帮过你的人。
Zuòrén yào yǐnshuǐsīyuán, bùnéng wàng le bāng guò nǐ de rén.
One should remember the source of one's blessings and never forget those who helped along the way.
公司发展得这么好，我们更要饮水思源，回馈社会。
Gōngsī fāzhǎn de zhème hǎo, wǒmen gèng yào yǐnshuǐsīyuán, huíkuì shèhuì.
Now that the company is doing so well, all the more reason to remember our roots and give back to society.
校友们饮水思源，捐款资助母校建新图书馆。
Xiàoyǒu men yǐnshuǐsīyuán, juānkuǎn zīzhù mǔxiào jiàn xīn túshūguǎn.
Mindful of where they came from, the alumni donated to fund a new library at their alma mater.

Tips

memory
Literally 'drink water, think source.' Every sip should remind you of the spring it came from.
history
From the Northern Zhou poet 庾信's 《徵调曲》: 落其实者思其树，饮其流者怀其源 — those who eat the fruit think of the tree; those who drink the stream remember its source.

Stroke Order

饮 yǐn
水 shuǐ
思 sī
源 yuán