因祸得福 Turn misfortune into fortune
Explanation
指坏事变好事,祸事转化为福事。
Refers to a bad thing turning into a good thing, a misfortune turning into a fortune.
Origin Story
从前,塞外住着一位老翁,他家有一匹骏马,不料有一天这匹马竟跑丢了。邻居们纷纷前来安慰,老翁却说:"这未必是坏事。"果然,过了几天,这匹马竟带回几匹健壮的野马。这下,全家人都高兴极了。可没过多久,老翁的独子骑马时不慎摔伤了腿。邻居们又来探望,老翁依然笑着说:"这也不一定是坏事。"大家觉得他真是乐观。后来,果然如老翁所料,一场战争爆发了,村里许多青壮年都被征兵入伍,他的儿子因腿伤而免于征战,得以保全性命。最终,老翁因祸得福,保全了家人。
Once upon a time, there was an old man living in the north. He had a fine horse, but one day the horse ran away. His neighbors came to comfort him, but the old man said, "This may not be a bad thing." Indeed, a few days later, the horse came back with several strong wild horses. The whole family was overjoyed. But not long after, the old man's only son was injured while riding a horse. The neighbors came to visit again, and the old man still smiled and said, "This may not be a bad thing either." Everyone thought he was very optimistic. Later, as the old man had foreseen, a war broke out. Many young men in the village were conscripted into the army, but his son was spared from the war because of his injury, and his life was saved. In the end, the old man turned misfortune into fortune and saved his family.
Usage
常用作谓语、宾语、定语;形容坏事变好事。
Often used as predicate, object, and attributive; describes how something bad turns into something good.
Examples
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他虽然遭遇了挫折,但却因祸得福,最终获得了成功。
tā suīrán zāoyù le cuòzhé, dàn què yīnhuòdéfú, zuìzhōng huòdéle chénggōng。
Although he suffered setbacks, he turned misfortune into fortune and ultimately achieved success.
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这次意外虽然让我们损失惨重,但我们也因祸得福,发现了新的商机。
zhè cì yìwài suīrán ràng wǒmen sǔnshī cǎnzhòng, dàn wǒmen yě yīnhuòdéfú, fāxiàn le xīn de shāngjī。
Although this accident caused us heavy losses, we also turned misfortune into fortune and discovered new business opportunities.