食穀種

Chinese

 
eat; food; to feed
eat; food; to feed; animal feed
rice seeds
trad. (食穀種) 穀種
simp. (食谷种) 谷种

Etymology

Rice seeds are reserved by farmers so that they can grow them and make money in the future. When there is crop failure and one has consumed all food storage, he has no choice but to eat the seeds. Thus this expression means one has lived off all savings without income.

Pronunciation


Verb

食⫽穀種 (verb-object)

  1. (Cantonese) to live off one's savings without any income
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