大丈夫能屈能伸

dàzhàngfunéngqūnéngshēn ㄉㄚˋ ㄓㄤˋ ˙ㄈㄨ ㄋㄥˊ ㄑㄩ ㄋㄥˊ ㄕㄣ

    • A leader can submit or can stand tall as required.
    • ready to give and take
    • flexible

Character by character

Saying俗语俗語

Proverb谚语諺語 · In everyday use

Literally
a true man can bend and can stretch
Meaning
A person of stature can endure humiliation when down and show ambition when things go well. Approving; often said to justify swallowing one's pride for a time.

Sources