塞翁失马
塞翁失马 (sài wēng shī mǎ) literally means “old man loses horse” and expresses “misfortune might be a blessing”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: sai weng shi ma, sai weng shi ma,塞翁失马 meaning, 塞翁失马 in english
Misfortune might be a blessing
Pronunciation: sài wēng shī mǎ
Literal meaning: Old man loses horse
Origin & Usage
This profound idiom originates from the story of a wise old man (塞翁) living near the northern border who lost his prized horse (失马). When neighbors came to console him, he asked, 'How do you know this isn't good fortune?' Indeed, the horse later returned with a magnificent wild horse. When neighbors congratulated him, he remained cautious. Later, his son broke his leg while riding the wild horse, but this injury ultimately saved him from being conscripted into a war where many soldiers perished. The idiom teaches the Taoist principle that fortune and misfortune are interconnected and often transform into each other, encouraging us to maintain equilibrium in the face of life's ups and downs.
Examples
English: "Losing his job led him to find his true calling"
Chinese: 失业反而让他找到了真正的使命
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一帆风顺
yī fān fēng shùn
Plain sailing; everything going smoothly
Learn more →
千里迢迢
qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo
Travel a great distance
Learn more →
民富国强
mín fù guó qiáng
Prosperous people and powerful nation
Learn more →
国泰民安
guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
Learn more →
太平盛世
tài píng shèng shì
Golden age of peace and prosperity
Learn more →
四海升平
sì hǎi shēng píng
Peace everywhere; universal harmony
Learn more →
安土重迁
ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
Learn more →
故土难离
gù tǔ nán lí
Hard to leave one's homeland
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 塞翁失马 mean in English?
塞翁失马 (sài wēng shī mǎ) literally translates to “Old man loses horse” and is used to express “Misfortune might be a blessing”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 塞翁失马 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving misfortune might be a blessing.
What is the pinyin for 塞翁失马?
The pinyin pronunciation for 塞翁失马 is “sài wēng shī mǎ”.