qiǎo​fù​zuò​bù​dé​wú​miàn​bó​tuō

even the cleverest housewife cannot make noodles without flour

  1. clever housewife
    a capable and ingenious housewife or a woman who is skilled in household tasks
  2. to make
    To make, produce, or manufacture; to cook or prepare food
  3. [potential]
    Used after a verb or adjective to express that something is impossible or not permitted.
  4. adjectiveverb
    to not have
    to not have; there is no; lack; (as prefix) non-; un-; -less
  5. flour
    wheat flour; powder made from ground grain or beans
  6. short wide noodles
    an ancient food made from wheat or rice flour, similar to short and wide noodles