看菜吃飯 kān cài chī fàn

act according to the situation; live within means

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. to eat depending on the dish (idiom); fig. to act according to actual circumstances
  2. 2. to live within one's means

Characters

Character Meaning
看 kān HSK 1
to see; to look at; to watch
菜 cài HSK 1
vegetable; dish (type of food); cuisine
吃 chī HSK 1
to eat; to consume; to eat at (a cafeteria etc)
飯 fàn
meal; cooked rice; devotee