汉英词典
Chinese-English Dictionary
MEANING OF 塞翁失馬
sài wēng shī mǎ
塞翁失馬 (塞翁失马)
lit. the old man lost his horse, but it all turned out for the best (idiom) / fig. a blessing in disguise / it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good
塞 Dangerous border / 翁 Old man / It is a metaphor that although you suffer a loss for a while, you may be able to benefit from it / It also means that bad things can turn into good things under certain conditions
《淮南子．人间训》"夫祸福之转而相生，其变难见也。近塞上之人，有善术者，马无故亡而入胡，人皆吊之。其父曰'此何遽不为铬?'居数月，其马将骏马而归，人皆贺之。其父曰'此何遽不为祸乎?'家富良马，其子好骑，堕而折其髀，人皆吊之。其父曰'此何遽不为铬?'居一年，胡人大入塞，丁壮者引弦而战，近塞之人，死者十九，此独以跛之故，父子相保。故福之为祸，祸之为福，化不可极，深不可测也。"后因以"塞翁失马"比喻祸福相倚，坏事变成好事。
塞 sāi/sè/sài 翁 wēng 失 shī 马 (馬) mǎ
COMMON WORDS WITH 塞翁失馬
塞翁失馬安知非福 ( 塞翁失马安知非福 )
sài wēng shī mǎ ān zhī fēi fú
the old man lost his mare, but it all turned out for the best (idiom); fig. a blessing in disguise / it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good / also written 塞翁失馬焉知非福|塞翁失马焉知非福
( 塞翁失马安知非福 )
塞翁失馬焉知非福 ( 塞翁失马焉知非福 )
sài wēng shī mǎ yān zhī fēi fú
the old man lost his mare, but it all turned out for the best (idiom); fig. a blessing in disguise / it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good
( 塞翁失马焉知非福 )
EXAMPLE SENTENCES

他在比赛中的失利只是塞翁失马。

His fail in the match was just a blessing in disguise.

塞翁失马，焉知非福？你可以将你一直没时间看的书看完。

Well, every cloud has a silver lining. Now you can read all those books you haven't had time for.

昨天脸上刚挨了一巴掌，现在，这些想法看上去有些一厢情愿，但是有时侯塞翁失马，焉知非福？

After yesterday's slap in the face this may sound like wishful thinking, but sometimes bad turns have positive unintended consequences.

当丘吉尔在1945年的大选中落败的时候，他的妻子克莱曼婷告诉他“塞翁失马，焉知非福”。

When Winston Churchill was defeated in the 1945 general election, his wife, Clementine, told him it was "a blessing in disguise".

也许被解雇对你来说是塞翁失马，因祸得福；也许失业正是你征服恐惧和全力以赴、破釜沉舟的良好时机。

Maybe being laid off was a blessing in disguise. Maybe, it is time for you to conquer your fears and go for broke.

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