depend on others; be subservient
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to depend on others for survival; to be subservient; to dance to someone's tune
literaryDerogatory idiom describing a situation where one is completely dependent on another's mood or decisions, often implying a loss of dignity or autonomy. Literally means 'to look up to someone's nose breath' (to be so close as to inhale their breath).
Tā他
nìng宁
kě可
è饿
sǐ死
，
yě也
bù不
yuàn愿
yǎng仰
rén人
bí鼻
xī息
。
He would rather starve to death than be subservient to others.
Zài在
zhè这
gè个
gōng公
sī司
，
yuán员
gōng工
men们
bù不
dé得
bù不
yǎng仰
rén人
bí鼻
xī息
，
kàn看
lǎo老
bǎn板
liǎn脸
sè色
xíng行
shì事
。
In this company, employees have to dance to the boss's tune and act according to his mood.
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Wǒ我
men们
yào要
zǒu走
dú独
lì立
zì自
zhǔ主
de的
dào道
lù路
，
bù不
néng能
yǎng仰
rén人
bí鼻
xī息
。
We must take the path of independence and self-determination, not relying on others.
Xiǎo小
guó国
ruò若
yǎng仰
rén人
bí鼻
xī息
，
zhōng终
jiāng将
shī失
qù去
zì自
zhǔ主
quán权
。
If a small country relies on others for survival, it will eventually lose its autonomy.