drink poison to quench thirst; seek quick fix regardless of consequences
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to drink poisoned wine to quench thirst; to seek a temporary solution regardless of severe consequences
formalThis idiom is used to criticize short-sighted actions that solve immediate problems but create larger disasters. It is often used in formal writing, political commentary, and business contexts.
Wèi为
le了
huán还
zhài债
ér而
jiè借
gāo高
lì利
dài贷
，
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
yǐn饮
zhèn鸩
zhǐ止
kě渴
。
Borrowing high-interest loans to pay off debts is simply drinking poison to quench thirst.
Yòng用
wū污
rǎn染
huán环
jìng境
de的
fāng方
shì式
lái来
fā发
zhǎn展
jīng经
jì济
，
wú无
yì异
yú于
yǐn饮
zhèn鸩
zhǐ止
kě渴
。
Developing the economy by polluting the environment is no different from drinking poison to quench thirst.
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
yǐn饮
zhèn鸩
zhǐ止
kě渴
de的
zuò做
fǎ法
，
zuì最
zhōng终
huì会
ràng让
gōng公
sī司
pò破
chǎn产
。
This kind of short-sighted approach will eventually bankrupt the company.
Bù不
néng能
wèi为
le了
duǎn短
qī期
lì利
yì益
ér而
yǐn饮
zhèn鸩
zhǐ止
kě渴
。
One must not drink poison to quench thirst for the sake of short-term gains.