barely preserve life; survive ignobly
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to barely preserve (one's life); to drag out an ignoble existence; to survive at all costs (often by compromising one's principles)
literaryLiterary and formal usage, typically appearing in the set phrase '苟全性命'. Often carries a negative connotation of compromising one's integrity merely to survive. Derived from classical Chinese texts such as Zhuge Liang's 'Chu Shi Biao'.
Zài在
zhè这
gè个
luàn乱
shì世
zhōng中
，
xǔ许
duō多
rén人
zhǐ只
xiǎng想
gǒu苟
quán全
xìng性
mìng命
。
In these troubled times, many people just want to drag out an ignoble existence.
Tā他
wèi为
le了
gǒu苟
quán全
xìng性
mìng命
，
bù不
dé得
bù不
xiàng向
dí敌
rén人
tóu投
xiáng降
。
In order to barely preserve his life, he had no choice but to surrender to the enemy.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Gǔ古
rén人
yún云
：
“
Gǒu苟
quán全
xìng性
mìng命
yú于
luàn乱
shì世
，
bù不
qiú求
wén闻
dá达
yú于
zhū诸
hóu侯
。
”
As the ancients said, 'I merely sought to preserve my life in a time of chaos, not seeking to make a name for myself among the nobles.'
Tā他
bù不
yuàn愿
gǒu苟
quán全
tōu偷
shēng生
，
zuì最
zhōng终
xuǎn选
zé择
le了
xùn殉
guó国
。
He was unwilling to drag out a shameful existence, and ultimately chose to die for his country.