run out of food; experience a food shortage
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to run out of food; to have one's food supply cut off
formalOften used in historical or crisis contexts to describe a severe shortage of staple food supplies. The classical phrase '断粮绝草' extends the meaning to include fodder for horses.
Bèi被
wéi围
kùn困
de的
chéng城
chí池
hěn很
kuài快
jiù就
yào要
duàn断
liáng粮
le了
。
The besieged city will soon run out of food.
Dāng当
nián年
nào闹
jī饥
huang荒
，
hěn很
duō多
dì地
fang方
dōu都
duàn断
le了
liáng粮
。
During the famine back then, many places experienced a complete food shortage.
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Lì历
shǐ史
jì记
zǎi载
zhōng中
cháng常
yǒu有
jūn军
duì队
yīn因
duàn断
liáng粮
jué绝
cǎo草
ér而
bù不
zhàn战
zì自
bài败
。
Historical records often mention armies being defeated without a fight due to running out of food and fodder.