为五斗米折腰

為五斗米折腰

wèi wǔ dǒu mǐ zhéyāo

idiom

Meanings

1 lit. to bow for five pecks of rice
2 to give up one's integrity for a salary

Characters

peck (a measure of grain)

Examples

HSK 7-9

他宁可辞职，也不为五斗米折腰。

Tā nìngkě cízhí, yě bú wèi wǔ dǒu mǐ zhéyāo.

He would rather quit than give up his integrity for a paycheck.

HSK 7-9

陶渊明不愿为五斗米折腰，辞官回乡种田去了。

Táo Yuānmíng bú yuàn wèi wǔ dǒu mǐ zhéyāo, cíguān huíxiāng zhòngtián qù le.

Tao Yuanming would not bow for five pecks of rice, so he resigned his post and went home to farm.

Tips

history

When an inspector was due at his county, the magistrate 陶渊明 was told to put on his formal sash to receive him. He refused to bow to a petty official for five pecks of rice, his pay, and resigned. The story is told in the 《晋书》. Almost always negated today: 不为五斗米折腰.

Stroke Order

为 wéi

五 wǔ

斗 dǒu

米 mǐ

折 zhé

腰 yāo