靠天吃饭

靠天吃飯

kàotiānchīfàn

idiom

Meanings

1 to depend on the weather for one's livelihood
2 to live at the mercy of nature
3 subsistence farming dependent on the elements

Characters

to rely on; to lean on

sky; heaven; weather

Examples

过去农民靠天吃饭，收成好坏完全看老天爷。

Guòqù nóngmín kàotiānchīfàn, shōuchéng hǎohuài wánquán kàn lǎotiānyé.

In the past farmers lived at the mercy of the weather; the harvest depended entirely on the heavens.

现代农业技术让我们不再完全靠天吃饭。

Xiàndài nóngyè jìshù ràng wǒmen bú zài wánquán kàotiānchīfàn.

Modern agricultural technology means we no longer depend entirely on the weather for our food.

Tips

culture

Core phrase in discussions of rural China and pre-industrial agriculture. Rural modernization, irrigation, and greenhouses are often framed as 'no longer 靠天吃饭'. Can extend metaphorically to any risky, uncontrolled livelihood (fishing, tourism, street vending).

memory

靠 (rely on) + 天 (sky/heaven) + 吃饭 (eat) — literally 'eat by leaning on the sky'. A vivid picture of a farmer looking up, praying for rain to feed his family.

Stroke Order

靠 kào

天 tiān

吃 chī

饭 fàn