depend on the mountain for food if you live by a mountain; depend on water for food if you live by the water
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesproverb
make the best of what's available; use local resources to one's advantage
This proverb emphasizes the concept of being resourceful and adapting to one's circumstances, often referring to economic activities or livelihood. It's neutral in tone.
Wǒ我
men们
zhè这
lǐ里
shì是
yú渔
cūn村
，
zì自
rán然
shì是
kào靠
shān山
chī吃
shān山
，
kào靠
shuǐ水
chī吃
shuǐ水
，
yǐ以
dǎ打
yú鱼
wéi为
shēng生
。
Our village is a fishing village, so naturally we make our living by fishing—it's a case of depending on water for food.
Zuò做
lǚ旅
yóu游
kāi开
fā发
，
yào要
dǒng懂
dé得
kào靠
shān山
chī吃
shān山
，
kào靠
shuǐ水
chī吃
shuǐ水
，
lì利
yòng用
hǎo好
běn本
dì地
de的
zì自
rán然
fēng风
guāng光
。
When developing tourism, you need to understand how to make the best of local resources and utilize the natural scenery.
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Yǐ以
qián前
de的
nóng农
mín民
méi没
yǒu有
qí其
tā他
shōu收
rù入
，
zhǐ只
néng能
kào靠
shān山
chī吃
shān山
，
kào靠
shuǐ水
chī吃
shuǐ水
，
xiàng向
dà大
zì自
rán然
suǒ索
qǔ取
shēng生
huó活
wù物
zī资
。
Farmers in the past had no other income; they could only depend on local resources and obtain their livelihood from nature.