三旬九食 in English san1 xun2 jiu3 shi2 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) to have only nine meals in thirty days (idiomatic expression)
  • metaphorically (of a family) on the brink of starvation
  • in dire straits

Simplified Characters

三 旬 九 食

Traditional Characters

三 旬 九 食

Pinyin

san1 xun2 jiu3 shi2

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

三san1surname San 旬xun2ten days 九jiu3nine 食shi2to eat