拆东墙补西墙 in English chai1 dong1 qiang2 bu3 xi1 qiang2 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) pull down the east wall to repair the west wall (idiomatic expression); metaphorically temporary expedient
  • rob Peter to pay Paul

Simplified Characters

拆 东 墙 补 西 墙

Traditional Characters

拆 東 牆 補 西 牆

Pinyin

chai1 dong1 qiang2 bu3 xi1 qiang2

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

拆chai1to tear open 东dong1surname Dong 墙qiang2variant of 牆|墙[qiang2], wall 补bu3to repair 西xi1the West 墙qiang2variant of 牆|墙[qiang2], wall