涸轍之鮒 hé zhé zhī fù

fig. a person in dire straits

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. a person in dire straits
  2. 2. lit. a fish in a dried out rut (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
涸 hé
to dry up; to dry
轍 zhé
to withdraw; to remove; track
之 zhī HSK 4
(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的de); it
鮒 fù
silver carp