Tiědǎ de yámen; liúshuǐ de guān.

鐵打的衙門, 流水的官。

Lit Government offices [are] made of iron [which remains for ages, but the] officials [working in them are like] running water [changing from time to time].

Fig Government officials come and go; that's the way it is.

Note [Note: tiědǎ (de), (lit) “iron-hammered”; (fig) “unshakable.”]

Topics CHANGE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS yámen