水涨船高 shuǐzhǎng-chuángāo the tide rises, the boat floats (idiom)
the tide rises, the boat floats (idiom); figuratively to change with the overall trend; to develop according to the situation
How to remember 水涨船高: 水 water + 涨 flood tide + 船 ship + 高 high = the tide rises, the boat floats (idiom).
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How it is used
- Idiom 'when the water rises, the boat rises too' - things go up together with the overall trend.
- Note 涨 read zhǎng (to rise); used when one thing improves because its context does (e.g. wages rising with prices).
- Vivid metaphor for benefiting from a rising tide.