反裘負芻 fǎn qiú fù chú

fig. to live a life of poverty and hard work

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. to live a life of poverty and hard work
  2. 2. fig. to act stupidly
  3. 3. lit. to wear one's coat inside out and carry firewood on one's back (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
反 fǎn HSK 4
opposite; to oppose; against
裘 qiú
fur; fur coat; surname Qiu
負 fù
to be defeated; to bear; negative (math. etc)
芻 chú
fodder; to mow or cut grass; straw