Skip to content

无心插柳柳成阴

wú xīn chā liǔ liǔ chéng yīn

Definitions

  1. 1. lit. idly poke a stick in the mud and it grows into a tree to shade you
  2. 2. (fig.) unintentional actions may bring unexpected success
  3. 3. also written 無心插柳柳成蔭|无心插柳柳成荫

Stop forgetting what you study. Build recall daily.

Try HanyuGuide's Chinese review system with multiple choice, typed recall, tone-aware practice, and reviews scheduled before memory fades.

Start Free Trial · $9.99 / year

Sign up with Google
Continue with Email
Try the 30-second demo

Words Containing 无心插柳柳成阴

有意栽花花不发，无心插柳柳成阴
yǒu yì zāi huā huā bù fā , wú xīn chā liǔ liǔ chéng yīn

lit. you plant a garden and the flowers do not bloom, you poke a stick in the mud and it grows into a tree

Child Words of 无心插柳柳成阴

心
xīn

heart

成
chéng

to succeed

插
chā

to insert

无
wú

not to have

阴
yīn

overcast (weather)

柳
liǔ

willow

无心
wú xīn

unintentionally

无心插柳
wú xīn chā liǔ

(idiom) (of a good outcome) unanticipated