discard helpers after use; ungrateful
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to kill the donkey after unloading the millstone; to discard one's helpers once they have served their purpose; ungrateful
derogatoryHighly derogatory. Used to criticize someone who ruthlessly abandons or harms those who helped them achieve success.
Tā他
zhè这
yàng样
zuò做
zhēn真
shì是
xiè卸
mò磨
shā杀
lǘ驴
，
tài太
bù不
rén仁
yì义
le了
。
What he's doing is truly killing the donkey after unloading—utterly heartless.
Lǎo老
bǎn板
shēng生
yì意
zuò做
dà大
le了
jiù就
bǎ把
lǎo老
yuán员
gōng工
dōu都
cí辞
le了
，
zhēn真
shì是
xiè卸
mò磨
shā杀
lǘ驴
。
The boss fired all the veteran employees once the business grew big—truly discarding the helpers after use.
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Nǐ你
bù不
néng能
xiè卸
mò磨
shā杀
lǘ驴
，
xiàn现
zài在
chéng成
gōng功
le了
jiù就
wàng忘
le了
dāng当
chū初
bāng帮
nǐ你
de的
rén人
。
You can't kill the donkey after unloading; now that you're successful, you can't forget the people who helped you at the start.