無心插柳

无心插柳
wúxīnchāliǔ
  1. (idiom) (of a good outcome) unanticipated
  2. serendipitous
  3. fortuitous

CEDICT

short for 無心插柳柳成蔭 /无心插柳柳成荫 (wúxīn chā liǔ liǔ chéng yìn)

Wiktionary

Entry Composition

1 無心 wúxīn
  1. unintentionally
  2. not in the mood to
=2 插 chā
  1. to insert
  2. stick in
  3. pierce
  4. to take part in
  5. to interfere
  6. to interpose
=2 插 chā old variant of 插 chā
=3 柳 liǔ willow
=3 柳 liǔ old variant of 柳 liǔ
=3 柳 liǔ old variant of 柳 liǔ

Containing this entry

無心插柳柳成陰 wúxīnchāliǔliǔchéngyīn
  1. lit. idly poke a stick in the mud and it grows into a tree to shade you
  2. (fig.) unintentional actions may bring unexpected success
  3. also written 無心插柳柳成蔭
無心插柳柳成蔭 wúxīnchāliǔliǔchéngyìn

Related entries

未料 wèiliào
  1. to not anticipate
  2. to not expect
  3. unanticipated
  4. unexpected