是药三分毒

every medicine has its side effect

variant of 是[shi4] / (used in given names)

to be (followed by substantives only) / correct; right; true / (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well / (adverb for emphatic assertion)

leaf of the iris / variant of 藥|药[yao4]

medicine / drug / substance used for a specific purpose (e.g. poisoning, explosion, fermenting) / CL:種|种[zhong3],服[fu4],味[wei4] / to poison

three / 3

somewhat / to some degree

to divide; to separate / to distribute; to allocate / to distinguish (good and bad) / (bound form) branch of (an organization); sub- (as in 分局[fen1 ju2]) / fraction / one tenth (of certain units) / unit of length equivalent to 0.33 cm / minute (unit of time) / minute (angular measurement unit) / a point (in sports or games) / 0.01 yuan (unit of money)

part / share / ingredient / component

poison / to poison / poisonous / malicious / cruel / fierce / narcotics