make a living by teaching (literary)
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to make a living by teaching; to teach for a living (literary)
literaryA literary metaphor comparing the act of teaching to plowing fields with one's tongue. It is typically used to describe traditional scholars or teachers in classical contexts.
Tā他
yī一
shēng生
shé舌
gēng耕
，
péi培
yǎng养
le了
wú无
shù数
rén人
cái才
。
He made his living by teaching all his life, cultivating countless talented individuals.
Gǔ古
dài代
xǔ许
duō多
dú读
shū书
rén人
kào靠
shé舌
gēng耕
wéi维
chí持
shēng生
jì计
。
In ancient times, many scholars relied on teaching to earn their livelihood.
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Zhè这
wèi位
lǎo老
xiān先
shēng生
shé舌
gēng耕
shù数
shí十
zǎi载
，
táo桃
lǐ李
mǎn满
tiān天
xià下
。
This old gentleman has taught for decades and has students all over the world.