死马当活马医 in English si3 ma3 dang4 huo2 ma3 yi1 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) to give medicine to a dead horse (idiomatic expression)
  • metaphorically to keep trying everything in a desperate situation

Simplified Characters

死 马 当 活 马 医

Traditional Characters

死 馬 當 活 馬 醫

Pinyin

si3 ma3 dang4 huo2 ma3 yi1

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

死si3to die 马ma3surname Ma 当dang1(onom.) dong 活huo2to live 马ma3surname Ma 医yi1medical