饮水思源
yǐn shuǐ sī yuán
when you drink water, think of its source: remember where your good fortune comes from
Character by character
饮yǐn
drink
drink
水shuǐ
water
water
思sī
think of
think of
源yuán
source
source
Example
他富起来以后饮水思源，出钱给家乡修了一所学校。
Once he had made his fortune he remembered where he came from and paid for a school in his home town.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
Goes back to 饮其流者怀其源 in a poem by Yu Xin (庾信, 6th century). Said of gratitude to teachers, parents, one’s home town or those whose sacrifice made today possible; the folk version is 吃水不忘挖井人.
Learn this in Lesson 205 · HSK 7–9: 飞虎队与驼峰航线 (The Flying Tigers and the Hump)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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