Chinese characters and pinyin
Simplified: 路遥知马力，日久见人心
Traditional: 路遙知馬力，日久見人心
Pinyin: lù yáo zhī mǎ lì, rì jiǔ jiàn rén xīn
Literal translation
A long road reveals a horse’s strength; time reveals a person’s heart.
Natural English meaning
True ability and character become clear through time and difficulty.
Closest English equivalent
Time will tell.
The Chinese proverb is more specific: endurance tests strength, and time tests character.
When to use it
Use it when trust or ability cannot be judged quickly.
When not to use it
Avoid presenting it as a literal rule; the force of the saying depends on context and tone.
Example sentence
真正的朋友要经过时间考验，路遥知马力，日久见人心。
Real friendship proves itself over time and through difficulty.
Origin and cultural context
A long-standing proverb found in traditional drama and popular speech.
Classification: proverb. This label distinguishes a complete proverb or popular saying from a compact idiom or a quotation preserved from a classical text.
