Hanzi Now
CharactersIdiomsChinese NameFlashcards
Tools

Visual content

  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorCreate PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Character Highlight AnimatorChoose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
  • Chinese Text Morph AnimatorTurn one Chinese character, word or phrase into another; download SVG, MP4 or WebM

Audio content

  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting

Teaching materials

  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
  • Bingo CardsPicture and word Bingo for your class
  • Picture WorksheetsChinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Other

  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Zodiac CalculatorFind your animal sign from your birth date and make a zodiac card.
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
View all tools →
前人种树,后人乘凉
前人种树,后人乘凉
前人种树,后人乘凉
前人种树,后人乘凉
前人种树,后人乘凉
前人种树,后人乘凉
前人种树,后人乘凉
前人种树,后人乘凉

前人种树,后人乘凉 — “One generation plants the trees, and the next enjoys the shade”

前人种树,后人乘凉 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “one generation plants the trees, and the next enjoys the shade”. Meaning that previous generations make efforts or contributions from which future generations benefit. Literally, “Previous people plant trees, later people enjoy the shade”.

Frequency

前人种树,后人乘凉 Pronunciation and Pinyin

前人种树,后人乘凉 Character Breakdown

CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
前
qián9forward, before, previous
人
rén2human being, person
种
zhòng9seed
树
shù9tree or plant
,,—
后
hòu6after, behind, empress
人
rén2human being, person
乘
chéng10to ride, multiply, or take advantage
凉
liáng10cool, chilly, refreshing

Example Sentence with 前人种树,后人乘凉

村里的老人们当年积极修建水利设施,才有了我们现在年年丰收,真是前人种树,后人乘凉啊
The older generations in the village actively built water conservancy facilities, which is why we now enjoy abundant harvests every year. It truly exemplifies 'one generation plants the trees, another enjoys the shade'.

Idioms Related to 前人种树,后人乘凉

Synonyms of 前人种树,后人乘凉

  • qián前rén人zāi栽shù树,,hòu后rén人chéng乘liáng凉Later generations benefit from earlier efforts

More idioms starting with 前

  • qián前bù不bā巴cūn村,,hòu后bù不bā巴diàn店nowhere to go for help
  • qián前bù不bā巴cūn村,,hòu后bù不zháo着diàn店stranded in the middle of nowhere
  • qián前bù不zháo着cūn村,,hòu后bù不zháo着diàn店stranded without support
  • qián前bù不jiàn见gǔ古rén人,,hòu后bù不jiàn见lái来zhě者unprecedented and peerless, profoundly alone
  • qián前shì事bù不wàng忘,,hòu后shì事zhī之shī师Learn from the past to guide the future
  • qián前rén人shī失jiǎo脚,,hòu后rén人bǎ把huá滑learn from others' mistakes
  • qián前rén人zhǒng种dé德hòu后rén人shōu收Later generations benefit from ancestors' virtues
  • qián前pū仆hòu后jì继fall and follow in a continuous effort
  • qián前pū仆hòu后qǐ起one falls, another rises
  • qián前pú仆hòu后bó踣fall one after another
  • qián前yǎng仰hòu后hé合rock back and forth with laughter

Recommended tools

Chinese Text Image Generator

Create PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes

Open the tool →

Bingo Cards

Picture and word Bingo for your class

Open the tool →

Stroke Order Animator

Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4

Open the tool →

Picture Worksheets

Chinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Open the tool →

Questions about 前人种树,后人乘凉

What does 前人种树,后人乘凉 mean?

前人种树,后人乘凉 (qián rén zhòng shù , hòu rén chéng liáng) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “one generation plants the trees, and the next enjoys the shade”.

How do you pronounce 前人种树,后人乘凉?

前人种树,后人乘凉 is pronounced qián rén zhòng shù , hòu rén chéng liáng in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 前人种树,后人乘凉 literally mean?

Literally, 前人种树,后人乘凉 means “Previous people plant trees, later people enjoy the shade”. It is used to mean “one generation plants the trees, and the next enjoys the shade”.

What is the Chinese definition of 前人种树,后人乘凉?

比喻前人为后人造福。亦作“前人栽树,后人乘凉”。

Hanzi Now

Explore the charm of Chinese language

Explore

  • Characters
  • Idioms
  • Chinese Names
  • Flashcards

Tools

  • Chinese Text Image Generator
  • Stroke Order Animator
  • Character Highlight Animator
  • Bingo Cards
  • Picture Worksheets
  • All Tools

More

  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
© 2026 Hanzi NowContact Us