苦海无边，回头是岸 in English ku3 hai3 wu2 bian1 , hui2 tou2 shi4 an4 Meaning

Meanings

  • The sea of bitterness has no bounds, turn your head to see the shore (idiomatic expression). Only Buddhist enlightenment can allow one to shed off the abyss of worldly suffering.
  • Repent and ye shall be saved!

Simplified Characters

苦 海 无 边 ， 回 头 是 岸

Traditional Characters

苦 海 無 邊 ， 回 頭 是 岸

Pinyin

ku3 hai3 wu2 bian1 , hui2 tou2 shi4 an4

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

苦ku3bitter 海hai3surname Hai 无wu2not to have 边bian1side ， 回hui2to circle 头tou2head 是shi4is 岸an4variant of 岸[an4]