寅吃卯糧

Chinese

3rd earthly branch; 3–5 a.m.
eat; eradicate; destroy
eat; eradicate; destroy; receive; stammer
 
 4th earthly branch; 5–7 a.m. grain; provisions
trad. (寅吃卯糧) 寅 吃 卯 糧
simp. (寅吃卯粮) 寅 吃 卯 粮
Literally: “to have eaten the yearly ration of the Year of the Rabbit in the Year of the Tiger (one year ahead)”.

Pronunciation

Idiom

寅吃卯糧

  1. (figurative) to prematurely overconsume; unable to make both ends meet

Synonyms

  • 寅支卯糧／寅支卯粮
  • (Hakka) 寅食卯糧／寅食卯粮
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