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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

Definitions

1. lit. you plant a garden and the flowers do not bloom, you poke a stick in the mud and it grows into a tree
2. fig. things do not always turn out as one would expect
3. well-laid plans may fail, and success may come where you least expect it

Child Words of 有意栽花花不发，无心插柳柳成阴

无心插柳

wú xīn chā liǔ

(idiom) (of a good outcome) unanticipated

idea

no; not so

hair

to have; there is

to intend

willow

heart

not to have

to insert

wú xīn chā liǔ liǔ chéng yīn

lit. idly poke a stick in the mud and it grows into a tree to shade you

flower

to plant; to grow

to succeed

unintentionally

overcast (weather)

to send out