人为财死，鸟为食亡 in English ren2 wei4 cai2 si3 , niao3 wei4 shi2 wang2 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) human beings will die for riches, just as birds will for food (idiomatic expression)
  • metaphorically man will do anything in his means to become rich

Simplified Characters

人 为 财 死 ， 鸟 为 食 亡

Traditional Characters

人 為 財 死 ， 鳥 為 食 亡

Pinyin

ren2 wei4 cai2 si3 , niao3 wei4 shi2 wang2

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

人ren2man 为wei4as (in the capacity of) 财cai2money 死si3to die ， 鸟niao3variant of 屌[diao3] 为wei4as (in the capacity of) 食shi2to eat 亡wang2to die