北叟失马

běi sǒu shī mǎ

lit. the old man lost his horse, but it all turned out for the best (idiom)

fig. a blessing in disguise; it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good

北

běi

north

叟

sǒu

old gentleman

失

shī

to lose

马

mǎ

abbr. for Malaysia 馬來西亞|马来西亚[Ma3 lai2 xi1 ya4]