塞翁失马
- Literal
- the old man of the frontier lost his horse
- Figurative
- Misfortune may turn into fortune and fortune into misfortune; one can't tell whether what happens is ultimately good or bad.
Where does 塞翁失马 come from?
An old man living near the northern frontier lost his horse, which fled into the territory of the barbarians. The neighbors pitied him, but he said: "How do you know this won't turn out to be good fortune?" Months later the horse returned, bringing with it a fine barbarian steed. His son, riding it, fell and broke his leg. Later war broke out and the young men were conscripted and nearly all died; the son, being lame, was spared, and so father and son both survived.
Source (出处): 《淮南子》
How is 塞翁失马 used? Two examples
- 丢了工作未必是坏事，塞翁失马，焉知非福。
Losing your job isn't necessarily a bad thing—the old man lost his horse; who knows if it isn't a blessing?
- 这次没考上，也许是塞翁失马，明年有更好的机会。
Not passing this time may be a blessing in disguise; next year there'll be a better chance.
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