諺語 · a single proverb
苦盡甘來
Simplified: 苦尽甘来
What does 苦盡甘來 (kǔ jìn gān lái) mean?
苦盡甘來 (kǔ jìn gān lái) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "bitterness exhausted, sweetness arrives." In use it means: After hardship comes happiness; endure the bitter and the sweet will follow. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Fire note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Ox.
Literally: "bitterness exhausted, sweetness arrives."
The reading
There is a particular quality to sweetness that only arrives after you have spent some time without it. The relief of spring tastes different after a long winter. The meal after the fast has a depth that ordinary meals cannot reach.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Common Chinese proverb; recorded in 元曲 Yuan dynasty drama
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Adversity & Resilience, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Ox, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Tiger.
Questions
Is 苦盡甘來 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 苦盡甘來 (kǔ jìn gān lái) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Common Chinese proverb; recorded in 元曲 Yuan dynasty drama. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 苦盡甘來?
In Mandarin it is kǔ jìn gān lái. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 苦盡甘來 aloud in Mandarin.