lose one's job; be fired; be laid off
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to lose one's job; to be fired; to be dismissed (lit. to smash one's rice bowl)
This vivid metaphor compares losing one's livelihood to smashing the bowl from which one eats. It can refer to being fired, being laid off, or otherwise losing one's means of support. The expression is widely used in both spoken and written Chinese.
Bù不
hǎo好
hǎo好
gōng工
zuò作
，
xiǎo小
xīn心
zá砸
fàn饭
wǎn碗
。
If you don't work hard, be careful you might lose your job.
Zhè这
cì次
cái裁
yuán员
ràng让
hěn很
duō多
yuán员
gōng工
dōu都
zá砸
le了
fàn饭
wǎn碗
。
These layoffs caused many employees to lose their jobs.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Tā他
yīn因
wèi为
xiè泄
lòu露
gōng公
sī司
jī机
mì密
ér而
bèi被
kāi开
chú除
，
chè彻
dǐ底
zá砸
le了
fàn饭
wǎn碗
。
He was fired for leaking company secrets and completely lost his livelihood.