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成语 · 塞翁失马

The old man lost his horse — and nobody could say yet whether it was bad news.

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塞翁失马sài wēng shī mǎthe old man lost his horse — a loss that turns out to be a blessing

逐字 · CHARACTER BY CHARACTER

CharacterReadingMeaning
sàifrontier fortress
wēngold man
shīto lose
horse

An old man's horse ran off. Bad luck, said the neighbours. It came back leading a fine wild horse. Good luck, they said. His son rode it, fell, and broke his leg. Bad luck — until the army came conscripting, and a boy with a broken leg stayed home. 《淮南子》

常说 · THE FULL SAYING

Sài wēng shī mǎ, yān zhī fēi fú.塞翁失马,焉知非福。The old man lost his horse — how do you know it isn't a blessing?

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