塞翁失马 The old man at the border lost his horse
Explanation
比喻一时虽然受到损失，也许反而因此能得到好处。也指坏事在一定条件下可变为好事。
It means that a loss may turn out to be a gain, misfortune may turn into good fortune under certain circumstances.
Origin Story
从前，靠近边塞住着一个老人，他家丢失了一匹马，邻居们都来安慰他，老人却说："这未必不是一件好事。"几个月后，那匹马竟然带回几匹骏马回来。大家都很替他高兴。不料，老人的儿子骑马时摔断了腿。邻居们又来安慰他，老人还是说："这未必不是一件好事。"不久，邻国发生战争，许多壮丁都被征走了，只有老人的儿子因为腿瘸而免于征战，保全了性命。
Once upon a time, there lived an old man near the border. His horse ran away and escaped into the steppe. The neighbors came to console him, but the old man said, "This may not necessarily be a bad thing." A few months later, the horse returned with several strong horses. Everyone congratulated him. But then, his son broke his leg while riding. The neighbors came to console him, but again the old man said, "This may not necessarily be a bad thing." Soon, a war broke out. Many young men were conscripted. Only the old man’s son, due to his broken leg, was spared.
Usage
用于安慰人，或比喻祸福相倚，难以预料。
Used to console someone, or to illustrate the interdependence of fortune and misfortune, which is difficult to predict.
Examples
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塞翁失马，焉知非福。
sài wēng shī mǎ, yān zhī fēi fú
A blessing in disguise.
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这件事虽然看起来是坏事，但说不定会带来意想不到的好处，塞翁失马，焉知非福！
zhè jiàn shì qíng suīrán kàn qǐlái shì huài shì, dàn shuo bù dìng huì dài lái yì xiǎng bù dào de hǎo chu, sài wēng shī mǎ, yān zhī fēi fú
This might seem like bad news, but it may turn out to be unexpectedly beneficial, who knows?