- 為(do; act; work)ASSOCIATIVE
An ancient hand-drawn character depicts a hand leading an elephant to work, meaning 'to do' or 'for'.
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为五斗米折腰
为五斗米折腰
(allusion to Tao Qian 陶潛|陶潜[Tao2 Qian2], who used this phrase when he resigned from government service rather than show subservience to a visiting inspector) to bow and scrape for five pecks of rice (that being a part of his salary as a local magistrate)
2 meanings
MEANING2 meanings
MEANING
- 壹动verb
(allusion to Tao Qian 陶潛|陶潜[Tao2 Qian2], who used this phrase when he resigned from government service rather than show subservience to a visiting inspector) to bow and scrape for five pecks of rice (that being a part of his salary as a local magistrate)
- 。
He would not bow down for five pecks of rice.
- 貳动verb
(fig.) to compromise one's principles for the sake of a salary
- 。
He will not bow down for the sake of money.
STROKE ORDER
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解字
CHARACTER ANALYSIS解字
CHARACTER ANALYSIS- 二(two; two horizontal strokes)RADICAL
- ？(diagonal stroke indicating the number five)ASSOCIATIVE
A number carved between two horizontal lines resembles the ancient finger-counting method.
解字
CHARACTER ANALYSIS- 斗(ladle for wine (pictographic))ASSOCIATIVE
A ladle with a handle used for scooping wine or measuring grain in ancient times.
解字
CHARACTER ANALYSIS- 米(grain of rice; pictographic)ASSOCIATIVE
Rice grains scattered from a grain bundle symbolize the staple food of East Asian people.
解字
CHARACTER ANALYSIS- ⺼(flesh; body)RADICAL
- 要(necessary; waist)PHONO-SEMANTIC
The waist is the most important part of the body.
为五斗米折腰
Traditional為五斗米折腰
(allusion to Tao Qian 陶潛|陶潜[Tao2 Qian2], who used this phrase when he resigned from government service rather than show subservience to a visiting inspector) to bow and scrape for five pecks of rice (that being a part of his salary as a local magistrate)
2 meanings
MEANING2 meanings
MEANING
- 壹动verb
(allusion to Tao Qian 陶潛|陶潜[Tao2 Qian2], who used this phrase when he resigned from government service rather than show subservience to a visiting inspector) to bow and scrape for five pecks of rice (that being a part of his salary as a local magistrate)
- 。
He would not bow down for five pecks of rice.
- 貳动verb
(fig.) to compromise one's principles for the sake of a salary
- 。
He will not bow down for the sake of money.
STROKE ORDER
Loading…
解字
CHARACTER ANALYSIS- 為(do; act; work)ASSOCIATIVE
An ancient hand-drawn character depicts a hand leading an elephant to work, meaning 'to do' or 'for'.
解字
CHARACTER ANALYSIS- 二(two; two horizontal strokes)RADICAL
- ？(diagonal stroke indicating the number five)ASSOCIATIVE
A number carved between two horizontal lines resembles the ancient finger-counting method.
解字
CHARACTER ANALYSIS- 斗(ladle for wine (pictographic))ASSOCIATIVE
A ladle with a handle used for scooping wine or measuring grain in ancient times.
解字
CHARACTER ANALYSIS- 米(grain of rice; pictographic)ASSOCIATIVE
Rice grains scattered from a grain bundle symbolize the staple food of East Asian people.
解字
CHARACTER ANALYSIS- ⺼(flesh; body)RADICAL
- 要(necessary; waist)PHONO-SEMANTIC
The waist is the most important part of the body.
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