前人栽树，后人乘凉
qián​rén​zāi​shù​hòu​rén​chéng​liáng

to benefit from one's predecessors

  1. 前人 qián​rén
    predecessors
    people of the past; forefathers or ancestors
  2. 栽 zāi verb
    to plant
    to plant; to grow; to transplant seedlings or cuttings
  3. 树 樹 shù noun
    tree
    tree; various types of woody plants
  4. ， hòu
    non-Chinese
  5. 后人 後人 hòu​rén
    posterity
    later generations; people of the future in general
  6. 乘凉 乘涼 chéng​liáng
    to cool off
    To relax or rest in a cool, breezy place during hot weather, often in the shade; to enjoy the cool air.