如人饮水，冷暖自知
rú​rén​yǐn​shuǐ​lěng​nuǎn​zì​zhī

only the drinker knows if the water is cold or warm

  1. 如 rú preposition
    to be like
    to be like; to be similar to; as if
  2. 人 rén noun
    person
    person; people; human being; a human
  3. 饮水 飲水 yǐn​shuǐ verb + noun
    to drink water
    To drink water; to give water to livestock to drink.
  4. ， lěng
    non-Chinese
  5. 冷暖 lěng​nuǎn
    temperature changes
    changes in temperature; the degree of cold or heat
  6. 自知 zì​zhī verb
    to be aware
    to know or realize something for oneself