Definition
民不聊生 is a four-character idiom meaning 'the people have no means of livelihood.' It describes extreme hardship, destitution, and social collapse—often used in the context of war, famine, or oppressive rule. The 聊 here means 'to rely on' (not 'to chat'), and the expression is typically used as a predicate or a comment on a dire situation.
f.e.
the people have no means of livelihoodextreme destitution and desperation
Examples
- ，民不聊生，。Nà shíhou zhànzhēng búduàn, mín bú, bǎixìng kǔ bùkān yán.At that time, wars were incessant, the people were destitute, and the common folk suffered unspeakably.
- ，民不聊生，。Jīngjì wēijī dǎozhì gōngchǎng dǎobì, mín bú, shèhuì dòngdàng bù'ān.The economic crisis led to factory closures, leaving the people with no means of survival and society in turmoil.
- ，民不聊生！Kàndào zhèxiē nànmín de shēnghuó, zhēn shì mín bú a!Seeing the lives of these refugees, it's truly a situation where the people have no livelihood!
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