不见棺材不落泪

Traditional form:

不見棺材不落淚

Pinyin (reading):

bùjiànguāncaibùluòlèi

Definitions:

• lit. not to shed a tear until one sees the coffin (idiom)
• fig. refuse to be convinced until one is faced with grim reality

Characters:

• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 见 - to see, to observe, to meet, to appear
• 棺 - coffin
• 材 - timber; material, stuff; talent
• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 落 - to fall, to drop; surplus, net income
• 泪 - tears; to cry, to weep

Traditional characters:

• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 見 - to see, to observe, to meet, to appear
• 棺 - coffin
• 材 - timber; material, stuff; talent
• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 落 - to fall, to drop; surplus, net income
• 淚 - tears; to cry, to weep