民不聊生

mínbù-liáoshēng

idiom #52,340

Meanings

1 the people cannot make a living
2 the populace in utter misery

Characters

to rely on (classical)

Examples

战争使民不聊生。

Zhànzhēng shǐ mínbùliáoshēng.

War left the people with no means of livelihood.

当时苛捐杂税，民不聊生。

Dāngshí kē juān záshuì, mínbùliáoshēng.

At that time oppressive taxes left the common people destitute.

Tips

history

From 《史记·张耳陈余列传》: '财匮力尽，民不聊生' (resources exhausted, the people could not survive). 聊 here means 'to rely on'.

Stroke Order

民 mín

不 bù

聊 liáo

生 shēng