春江水暖鸭先知
chūn​jiāng​shuǐ​nuǎn​yā​xiān​zhī

the duck is the first to know the spring water is warm

  1. 春 chūn noun
    spring
    The season of spring; also refers to the first season of the lunar year including the first three months.
  2. 江 jiāng nounproper noun
    river
    large river; large waterway
  3. 水 shuǐ noun
    water
    water; a liquid, juice, or lotion
  4. 暖 nuǎn adjective
    warm
    warm; genial; comfortable temperature
  5. 鸭 鴨 yā noun
    duck
    (bound form) duck; any of various swimming birds of the family Anatidae, usually referring to the domestic duck 鸭子 yā​zi
  6. 先 xiān adverb
    first
    earlier in time or sequence; beforehand; in advance
  7. 知 zhī verb
    to know
    to know; to be aware of; to realize or sense