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rù 入 bù 不 fū 敷 chū 出

入不敷出 rù bù fū chū

to spend more than one earns; unable to make ends meet

Literally: income not cover expenditure

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Origin

From Cao Xueqin's Qing novel Honglou Meng (chapter 107), describing the Jia family finances as 入不敷出.

How to use it

Predicate; negative. Often 家里入不敷出 or 财政入不敷出.

Example sentences

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  1. 物价不断上涨,许多低收入家庭已经入不敷出。
    Wùjià búduàn shàngzhǎng, xǔduō dī shōurù jiātíng yǐjīng rù bù fū chū.
    With prices constantly rising, many low-income families can no longer make ends meet.
    price continuously rise, many low income family already income not cover expenditure
  2. 公司连续三年入不敷出,不得不裁员以削减成本。
    Gōngsī liánxù sān nián rù bù fū chū, bùdébù cáiyuán yǐ xuējiǎn chéngběn.
    The company has run a deficit for three years in a row and has had to lay off staff to cut costs.
    company consecutive three year income not cover expenditure, have-no-choice-but lay-off in order to cut cost

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