不食人间烟火 bù shí rén jiān yān huǒ

fig. placing oneself above the common populace

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. placing oneself above the common populace
  2. 2. lit. not eating the food of common mortals

Characters

Character Meaning
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
食 shí HSK 5
to eat; food; animal feed
人 rén HSK 1
person; people; man
间 jiān HSK 2
between; among; within a definite time or space
烟 yān HSK 4
smoke; cigarette or pipe tobacco; mist
火 huǒ HSK 2
fire; hot (popular); fiery or flaming