為五斗米折腰
wèiwǔdǒumǐzhéyāo
ㄨㄟˋ ㄨˇ ㄉㄡˇ ㄇㄧˇ ㄓㄜˊ ㄧㄠ
Simplified 为五斗米折腰
- 1(allusion to Tao Qian 陶潛|陶潜[Tao2 Qian2], who used this phrase when he resigned from government service rather than show subservience to a visiting inspector) to bow and scrape for five pecks of rice (that being a part of his salary as a local magistrate)
- 2(fig.) to compromise one's principles for the sake of a salary