Closest Chinese expression路遥知马力，日久见人心
Pinyinlù yáo zhī mǎ lì, rì jiǔ jiàn rén xīn
Quick answer
The closest answer is 路遥知马力，日久见人心: True ability and character become clear through time and difficulty.
Literal translation
A long road reveals a horse’s strength; time reveals a person’s heart.
Are they completely equivalent?
路遥知马力，日久见人心 says that time reveals real ability and character. It replaces the visual surface/depth contrast with a test of duration.
When to use the Chinese saying
Use it when first impressions are insufficient and character needs time to become visible.
Other related Chinese expressions
A single English saying can point to different Chinese expressions depending on whether the speaker wants to emphasize action, patience, warning, hope, or social tone.
