# 塞翁失马

sài wēng shī mǎ

A setback may turn out to be a blessing

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** The frontier old man loses his horse

**Traditional Chinese:** 塞翁失馬

**Register:** Reflective · conversational

[Change & possibility](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/change)

## When to use it

Use to put uncertain good or bad fortune in perspective.

It expresses uncertainty about consequences; it is not a promise that every loss helps.

## Behind the words

A traditional tale in Huainanzi follows a family through a lost horse and changing fortunes. Each apparent gain or loss leads to an unexpected result.

The tale asks readers to withhold a final judgment about fortune because consequences unfold over time. A loss can create an opportunity, and a gain can carry a hidden cost. The expression is useful when a disappointing event later proves beneficial, or when its final effect remains uncertain. It should not be used to dismiss someone's immediate pain or guarantee a happy ending.

## Examples

虽然没赶上那次机会，也许是塞翁失马。

### Traditional Chinese

雖然沒趕上那次機會，也許是塞翁失馬。

suī rán méi gǎn shàng nà cì jī huì ， yě xǔ shì sài wēng shī mǎ 。

Although I missed that opportunity, it may turn out to be a blessing.

那次航班取消后，我们反而多陪了家人一天，真是塞翁失马。

### Traditional Chinese

那次航班取消後，我們反而多陪了家人一天，真是塞翁失馬。

nà cì háng bān qǔ xiāo hòu ， wǒ men fǎn ér duō péi le jiā rén yì tiān ， zhēn shì sài wēng shī mǎ 。

The canceled flight gave us another day with family; the setback turned into a blessing.

他没进那家公司，却找到了更适合自己的工作，算是塞翁失马。

### Traditional Chinese

他沒進那家公司，卻找到了更適合自己的工作，算是塞翁失馬。

tā méi jìn nà jiā gōng sī ， què zhǎo dào le gèng shì hé zì jǐ de gōng zuò ， suàn shì sài wēng shī mǎ 。

He missed out on that company but found a better-fitting job, so the disappointment brought an unexpected benefit.

比赛落选未必是坏事，也许是塞翁失马，焉知非福。

### Traditional Chinese

比賽落選未必是壞事，也許是塞翁失馬，焉知非福。

bǐ sài luò xuǎn wèi bì shì huài shì ， yě xǔ shì sài wēng shī mǎ ， yān zhī fēi fú 。

Not being selected may not be entirely bad; an apparent loss can have unexpected benefits.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 4, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=534&q=1&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%A1%9E%E7%BF%81%E5%A4%B1%E9%A6%AC)

## Keep exploring

- [姗姗来迟 shān shān lái chí Arrive noticeably late ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/shan-shan-lai-chi)

- [事过境迁 shì guò jìng qiān Circumstances have changed since the event ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/shi-guo-jing-qian)

- [石破天惊 shí pò tiān jīng Be startlingly original or extraordinary ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/shi-po-tian-jing)

- [史无前例 shǐ wú qián lì Have no known earlier parallel ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/shi-wu-qian-li)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 若无其事 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ruo-wu-qi-shi) [Next idiom 三从四德 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/san-cong-si-de)