三個和尚沒水喝 sān gè hé shang méi shuǐ hē

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. three monks have no water to drink (idiom)
  2. fig. everybody's business is nobody's business
  3. (If there is one monk, he will fetch water for himself. If there are two, they will fetch water together. But if there are three or more, none will take it upon himself to fetch water.)

CHARACTERS

三 sān
HSK 1
three
個 gè numerary adjunct, piece; single
和 hé
HSK 1
harmony, peace; peaceful, calm
尚 shang
HSK 5
still, yet; even; fairly, rather
沒 méi not, have not, none; to drown, sink
水 shuǐ
HSK 1
water, liquid, lotion, juice
喝 hē
HSK 1
drink; shout, call out