塞さい翁おうが馬うま

expression

the future is unpredictable; the irony of fate

Proverb derived from a Chinese story; used to express that misfortune may turn into fortune and vice versa, so one should not be overly elated or discouraged by immediate events. Often cited as 人間万事塞翁が馬.

See also: 人間万事塞翁が馬

• 不ふ合ごう格かくだったけど、塞さい翁おうが馬うまというから、これが良よい方ほう向こうに進すすむかもしれない。

  I failed the exam, but as they say, the future is unpredictable, so this might lead to something good.

• 宝たからくじに当あたったが、塞さい翁おうが馬うまで、それが原げん因いんで人にん間げん関かん係けいが悪わるくなった。

  I won the lottery, but in the irony of fate, it caused my relationships to deteriorate.