塞翁失马焉知非福 in English sai4 weng1 shi1 ma3 yan1 zhi1 fei1 fu2 Meaning

Meanings

  • the old man lost his mare, but it all turned out for the best (idiomatic expression); metaphorically a blessing in disguise
  • it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good

Simplified Characters

塞 翁 失 马 焉 知 非 福

Traditional Characters

塞 翁 失 馬 焉 知 非 福

Pinyin

sai4 weng1 shi1 ma3 yan1 zhi1 fei1 fu2

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

塞sai1Serbia 翁weng1surname Weng 失shi1to lose 马ma3surname Ma 焉yan1where 知zhi1to know 非fei1abbr. for 非洲[Fei1 zhou1], Africa 福fu2surname Fu