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zuò 坐 chī 吃 shān 山 kōng 空

坐吃山空 zuò chī shān kōng

to sit idle and eat up a fortune; to live off savings until nothing is left

Literally: sit eat mountain empty

Intermediate 💼 Work & money
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Origin

From a Yuan-dynasty drama by Qin Jianfu: 坐吃山空,立吃地陷.

How to use it

Predicate; negative. 不能坐吃山空.

Example sentences

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  1. 他没有工作，天天花父母的钱，早晚会坐吃山空。
    Tā méiyǒu gōngzuò, tiāntiān huā fùmǔ de qián, zǎowǎn huì zuò chī shān kōng.
    He has no job and spends his parents' money every day; sooner or later it will all run out.
    he not have work, every day spend parents (particle) money, sooner or later will sit eat mountain empty
  2. 存款再多，坐吃山空也是不行的。
    Cúnkuǎn zài duō, zuò chī shān kōng yě shì bù xíng de.
    No matter how big your savings are, idly living off them will not work.
    savings however much, sit eat mountain empty also is not okay (particle)

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