樹倒猢猻散 shù dǎo hú sūn sàn

DEFINITIONS

  1. When the tree topples the monkeys scatter. (idiom); fig. an opportunist abandons an unfavorable cause
  2. Rats leave a sinking ship.

CHARACTERS

樹 shù tree; plant; set up, establish
倒 dǎo
HSK 4
fall over; lie down; take turns
猢 hú a kind of monkey found in W.China
猻 sūn monkey
散 sàn
HSK 4
scatter, disperse, break up