qián​rén​zhòng​shù​hòu​rén​chéng​liáng

to benefit from one's predecessors

Senses

前人种树,后人乘凉/ 前人種樹,後人乘涼 qián​rén​zhòng​shù​hòu​rén​chéng​liáng to benefit from one's predecessors

one generation plants trees and the next sits in their shade; to enjoy the fruits of the labor of those who came before

References

variant 前人栽树,后人乘凉/前人栽樹,後人乘涼 前人种树,后人乘凉/前人種樹,後人乘涼