救人一命胜造七级浮屠
jiù​rén​yī​mìng​shèng​zào​qī​jí​fú​tú

saving a life is better than building a pagoda

  1. 救人 jiù​rén verb + noun
    to save someone
    To rescue a person; to save someone's life.
  2. 一命 yī​mìng noun
    a life
    a single life, whether of a person or an animal
  3. 胜 勝 shèng verbparticle
    to surpass
    to be superior to; to excel or be better than
  4. 造 zào verb
    to build
    to build; to manufacture; to create; to establish; to make; to invent
  5. 七级浮屠 七級浮屠 qī​jí​fú​tú
    seven-story pagoda
    A pagoda with seven floors; often used to represent the peak of merit or virtue.