make a meager living; scrape by
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to eke out a living; to scrape by
neutralDescribes a situation where income is barely enough to cover basic needs like food and shelter, implying hardship and a lack of financial security.
Tā他
zài在
gōng工
dì地
shàng上
gàn干
huó活
，
zhǐ只
shì是
wèi为
le了
yǎng养
jiā家
hú糊
kǒu口
。
He works on the construction site just to support his family and make ends meet.
Kào靠
bǎi摆
xiǎo小
tān摊
zhuàn赚
de的
jǐ几
ge个
qián钱
，
zhǐ只
gòu够
miǎn勉
qiǎng强
hú糊
kǒu口
。
The little money earned from running a small street stall is just enough to scrape by.
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Tā他
fù父
qīn亲
dāng当
nián年
zài在
xiāng乡
xià下
kào靠
zhòng种
dì地
hú糊
kǒu口
。
His father used to eke out a living by farming in the countryside.
Zhè这
fèn份
wēi微
bó薄
de的
xīn薪
shuǐ水
jǐn仅
néng能
ràng让
tā他
yī一
rén人
hú糊
kǒu口
。
This meager salary is only enough for him to subsist alone.