三旬九食
sān xún jiǔ shí
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1 lit. to have only nine meals in thirty days (idiom)
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2 fig. (of a family) on the brink of starvation
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3 in dire straits
人为财死,鸟为食亡
rén wèi cái sǐ , niǎo wèi shí wáng
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1 lit. human beings will die for riches, just as birds will for food (idiom)
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2 fig. man will do anything in his means to become rich
偏邪不正
piān xié bù zhèng
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1 biased
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2 prejudiced (idiom)
剑走偏锋
jiàn zǒu piān fēng
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1 the sword moves with side stroke (modern idiom)
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2 fig. unexpected winning move
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3 unconventional gambit
因噎废食
yīn yē fèi shí
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1 lit. not eating for fear of choking (idiom); fig. to cut off one's nose to spite one's face
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2 to avoid sth essential because of a slight risk
宵衣旰食
xiāo yī gàn shí
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1 to dress before light and not eat before dark (idiom)
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2 diligently attending to official matters
寝食难安
qǐn shí nán ān
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1 lit. cannot rest or eat in peace (idiom)
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2 fig. extremely worried and troubled
屋漏偏逢连夜雨
wū lòu piān féng lián yè yǔ
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1 when it rains, it pours (idiom)
废寝忘食
fèi qǐn wàng shí
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1 to neglect sleep and forget about food (idiom)
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2 to skip one's sleep and meals
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3 to be completely wrapped up in one's work
弱肉强食
ruò ròu qiáng shí
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1 lit. the weak are prey to the strong (idiom); fig. predatory behavior
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2 the law of the jungle
明知山有虎,偏向虎山行
míng zhī shān yǒu hǔ , piān xiàng hǔ shān xíng
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1 lit. to willfully go towards the mountain although knowing that it has tigers (idiom)
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2 fig. to take a risk despite knowing the dangers
民以食为天
mín yǐ shí wéi tiān
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1 Food is the God of the people. (idiom); People view food as the primary need.
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2 Food first, ethical niceties second
灭此朝食
miè cǐ zhāo shí
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1 lit. not to have breakfast until the enemy is destroyed
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2 anxious to do battle (idiom)
狂饮暴食
kuáng yǐn bào shí
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1 drunken gluttony (idiom); eating and drinking to excess
率兽食人
shuài shòu shí rén
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1 lit. to lead beasts to eat the people (idiom); fig. tyrannical government oppresses the people
发愤忘食
fā fèn wàng shí
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1 so dedicated as to forget one's meals (idiom)
砚田之食
yàn tián zhī shí
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1 to make a living by writing (idiom)
节衣缩食
jié yī suō shí
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1 to save on food and clothing (idiom); to live frugally
箪食壶浆
dān shí hú jiāng
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1 to receive troops with food and drink (idiom)
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2 to give troops a hearty welcome
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3 also pr. [dān sì hú jiāng]
缩衣节食
suō yī jié shí
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1 to economize on clothes and food
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2 to scrimp and save (idiom)