人为刀俎，我为鱼肉 rén wéi dāo zǔ ， wǒ wéi yú ròu

fig. to be at sb's mercy

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. to be at sb's mercy
  2. 2. lit. to be the meat on sb's chopping block (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
人 rén HSK 1
person; people; man
为 wéi HSK 2
for; because of; to
刀 dāo HSK 4
knife; blade; classifier for knife cuts or stabs
俎 zǔ
a stand for food at sacrifice
我 wǒ HSK 1
I; me; my
为 wéi HSK 2
for; because of; to
鱼 yú HSK 2
fish; surname Yu
肉 ròu HSK 2
meat; flesh; pulp (of a fruit)