無心插柳柳成蔭

Chinese
without the desire or intention; unwitting; unwittingly
 
insert; stick in; pierce; to take part in; to interfere; to interpose
 willow; surname willow; surname
 
finish; complete; accomplish; become; turn into; win; succeed; one tenth
 shade
trad. (無心插柳柳成蔭) 無心 插 柳 柳 成 蔭
simp. (无心插柳柳成荫) 无心 插 柳 柳 成 荫

Etymology

Literally: unwittingly plant a willow tree which later provides shade

Pronunciation
  • Mandarin
    (Pinyin): wúxīn chā liǔ liǔ chéng yìn
    (Zhuyin): ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄔㄚ ㄌㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄡˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄧㄣˋ
  • Cantonese (Jyutping): mou4 sam1 caap3 lau5 lau5 sing4 jam3

Idiom

無心插柳柳成蔭

  1. to do something which unintentionally returns positive results
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