好记性不如烂笔头
hǎo​jì​xìng​bù​rú​làn​bǐ​tóu

the palest ink is better than the best memory

  1. 好 hǎo adjective
    good
    good; fine; nice; satisfactory; (of people) close or on intimate terms
  2. 记性 記性 jì​xing noun
    memory
    one's ability to remember or retain information
  3. 不如 bù​rú verbpreposition
    not as good as
    not equal to; inferior to; to be not as good as
  4. 烂 爛 làn particleverb
    broken
    worn out; broken; tattered; falling apart
  5. 笔头 筆頭 bǐ​tóu
    nib
    The tip of a pen; a pen point or nib.