民以食為天 mín yǐ shí wéi tiān

DEFINITIONS

  1. Food is the God of the people. (idiom); People view food as the primary need.
  2. Food first, ethical niceties second

CHARACTERS

民 mín
HSK 4
people, subjects, citizens
以 yǐ
HSK 2
by means of; thereby, therefore; consider as; in order to
食 shí
HSK 5
eat; meal; food; KangXi radical number 184
為 wéi do, handle, govern, act; be
天 tiān
HSK 1
sky, heaven; god, celestial