泥菩萨过江，自身难保 ní pú sà guò jiāng ， zì shēn nán bǎo

DEFINITIONS

  1. like a clay Bodhisattva fording a river, can't guarantee his own safety
  2. unable to save oneself, let alone others

CHARACTERS

泥 ní
HSK 6
mud, mire; earth, clay; plaster
菩 pú herb, aromatic plant
萨 sà Buddhist gods or immortals
过 guò
HSK 2
pass, pass through, go across
江 jiāng
HSK 4
large river; yangzi; surname
自 zì
HSK 3
self, private, personal; from
身 shēn
HSK 2
body; trunk, hull; rad. no. 158
难 nán
HSK 3
difficult, arduous, hard; unable
保 bǎo
HSK 4
protect, safeguard, defend, care