土階茅茨 tǔ jiē máo cí

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. earthen steps and a thatched hut
  2. frugal living conditions (idiom)

CHARACTERS

土 tǔ
HSK 5
soil, earth; items made of earth
階 jiē stairs, steps; rank, degree
茅 máo reeds, rushes, grass; surname
茨 cí thatching; caltrop, Tribulus terrestris