打铁先得本身硬

打鐵先得本身硬
dǎtiěxiānděiběnshēnyìng

synonym of 打鐵還需自身硬 /打铁还需自身硬 (dǎtiě hái xū zìshēn yìng)

Wiktionary

Entry Composition

1 打铁 dǎtiě to forge ironware
=2 先 xiān
  1. beforehand; first; earlier
  2. at first; originally
  3. for the time being; for now
  4. (prefix) my late (in referring to deceased relatives older than oneself)
=2 先 xiǎn only used in 先馬／先马
=3 得 dé
  1. to obtain
  2. to get
  3. to gain
  4. to catch (a disease)
  5. proper
  6. suitable
  7. proud
  8. contented
  9. to allow
  10. to permit
  11. ready
  12. finished
=3 得 dè used in 得瑟 dèse
=3 得 de structural particle: used after a verb (or adjective as main verb), linking it to following phrase indicating effect, degree, possibility etc
=3 得 děi
  1. to have to
  2. must
  3. ought to
  4. to need to
4 本身 běnshēn
  1. itself
  2. in itself
  3. per se
5 硬 yìng
  1. hard; stiff; solid
  2. (fig.) strong; firm
  3. resolutely; uncompromisingly
  4. laboriously; with great difficulty
  5. good (quality); able (person)
  6. (of food) filling; substantial