前人種樹，後人乘涼
qián​rén​zhòng​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. 种树 種樹 zhòng​shù verb + noun
    to plant trees
  3. ， hòu
    non-Chinese
  4. 后人 後人 hòu​rén
    posterity
    later generations; people of the future in general
  5. 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.