吹箫乞食 chuī xiāo qǐ shí

DEFINITIONS

  1. to beg while playing the xiao 箫 (mouth organ)
  2. cf Wu Zixu 伍子胥, destitute refugee from Chu 楚, busked in Wu town c. 520 BC, then became a powerful politician

CHARACTERS

吹 chuī
HSK 5
blow; puff; brag, boast
箫 xiāo bamboo flute
乞 qǐ
HSK 6
beg; request
食 shí
HSK 5
eat; meal; food; KangXi radical number 184