蚕食鲸吞 in English can2 shi2 jing1 tun1 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) to nibble like a silkworm or swallow like a whale (idiomatic expression)
  • metaphorically to seize (territory and so on) incrementally or wholesale

Simplified Characters

蚕 食 鲸 吞

Traditional Characters

蠶 食 鯨 吞

Pinyin

can2 shi2 jing1 tun1

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

蚕can2silkworm 食shi2to eat 鲸jing1whale 吞tun1to swallow