为五斗米折腰

wèi wǔ dǒu mǐ zhé yāo

Definitions

1. (allusion to Tao Qian 陶潛|陶潜[táo qián], 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

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Child Words of 为五斗米折腰

five

to snap

to turn sth over

to break

as (in the capacity of)

because of

rice

waist

to fight

to bend at the waist