keep alive; subsist; eke out an existence
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesverb
to keep alive; to subsist; to eke out an existence
Emphasizes barely surviving, often under dire conditions like poverty, famine, or illness. It has a strong connotation of hardship and struggle.
Zhàn战
zhēng争
qī期
jiān间
，
rén人
men们
zhǐ只
néng能
kào靠
yě野
cài菜
shù树
pí皮
dù度
mìng命
。
During the war, people could only keep themselves alive by eating wild vegetables and tree bark.
Tā他
zhòng重
bìng病
chán缠
shēn身
，
kào靠
yào药
wù物
miǎn勉
qiǎng强
dù度
mìng命
。
He is seriously ill and subsists only with the help of medication.
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Zài在
shā沙
mò漠
lǐ里
，
yī一
diǎn点
shuǐ水
jiù就
zú足
yǐ以
dù度
mìng命
。
In the desert, a little water is enough to sustain life.
Tā他
men们
yī一
jiā家
rén人
kào靠
wēi微
bó薄
de的
shōu收
rù入
jiān艰
nán难
de地
dù度
mìng命
。
Their family ekes out a difficult existence on meager income.
Dù度
mìng命
shàng尚
qiě且
bù不
yì易
，
gèng更
bié别
tí提
zhuī追
qiú求
mèng梦
xiǎng想
le了
。
Merely keeping alive is hard enough, let alone pursuing dreams.