rice bowl; livelihood; job
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 7 examplesnoun
rice bowl; bowl for holding food
Refers literally to the physical bowl used for eating rice or other food.
Mā妈
ma妈
gěi给
wǒ我
mǎi买
le了
yī一
zhī只
xīn新
fàn饭
wǎn碗
。
Mom bought me a new rice bowl.
Qǐng请
bǎ把
kōng空
fàn饭
wǎn碗
fàng放
jìn进
xǐ洗
wǎn碗
chí池
lǐ里
。
Please put the empty rice bowls in the sink.
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Zhè这
zhī只
qīng青
cí瓷
fàn饭
wǎn碗
hěn很
jīng精
zhì致
。
This celadon rice bowl is very exquisite.
noun
job; livelihood; means of making a living
neutralFigurative usage. Common collocations include 'iron rice bowl' (铁饭碗) for a secure job, and 'lose one's rice bowl' (丢饭碗) for losing one's job.
Xiàn现
zài在
zhǎo找
fàn饭
wǎn碗
bù不
róng容
yì易
。
It's not easy to find a job nowadays.
Tā他
kào靠
xiě写
zuò作
zhèng挣
fàn饭
wǎn碗
。
He makes his living by writing.
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Zài在
tǐ体
zhì制
nèi内
gōng工
zuò作
céng曾
bèi被
chēng称
wéi为
tiě铁
fàn饭
wǎn碗
。
Working within the government system used to be called an 'iron rice bowl'.
Rú如
guǒ果
nǐ你
zài再
chí迟
dào到
，
jiù就
yào要
zá砸
fàn饭
wǎn碗
le了
。
If you're late again, you're going to lose your job.