三旬九食

MEANING

1. 壹形adjective

   lit. to have only nine meals in thirty days (idiom)

2. 貳形adjective

   fig. (of a family) on the brink of starvation

   • tāmenjiāsānxúnjiǔshí,shēnghuóhěnkùnnan.

     他们家三旬九食，生活很困难。🔊

     Their family goes hungry for nine days out of every thirty, and life is very difficult.

3. 參形adjective

   in dire straits

   • tāxiànzàisānxúnjiǔshí,shēnghuóhěnkùnnán.

     他现在三旬九食，生活很困难。🔊

     He is now eating only once every three days, and his life is very difficult.