wander the rivers and lakes; make a living traveling (esp. in old times)
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to wander from place to place making a living (esp. by fortune-telling, performing, selling medicine, etc.); to travel the "rivers and lakes" (jianghu)
archaicOriginally refers to itinerant occupations in traditional Chinese society. Often implies a life of hardship and mobility. The phrase carries a nostalgic or historical connotation in modern usage.
Tā他
nián年
qīng轻
shí时
chuǎng闯
jiāng江
hú湖
，
kào靠
shuǎ耍
hóu猴
xì戏
wéi为
shēng生
。
When he was young, he wandered the country making a living by performing monkey shows.
Zài在
nà那
gè个
dòng动
dàng荡
de的
nián年
dài代
，
xǔ许
duō多
rén人
bù不
dé得
bù不
chuǎng闯
jiāng江
hú湖
móu谋
shēng生
。
During those turbulent times, many people had to wander from place to place to make a living.
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Zhè这
wèi位
lǎo老
zhōng中
yī医
nián年
qīng轻
shí时
céng曾
chuǎng闯
jiāng江
hú湖
，
zǒu走
nán南
chuǎng闯
běi北
，
jiàn见
shi识
guǎng广
bó博
。
This old Chinese doctor once traveled the jianghu in his youth, journeying far and wide, gaining broad experience.