民脂民膏 mín zhī mín gāo

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. the fat and wealth of the people (idiom); the nation's hard-won wealth (esp. as an object of unscrupulous exploitation)
  2. the people's blood, sweat and tears

CHARACTERS

民 mín
HSK 4
people, subjects, citizens
脂 zhī
HSK 6
fat, grease, lard; grease
民 mín
HSK 4
people, subjects, citizens
膏 gāo
HSK 4
grease, fat; paste, ointment