窮鼠嚙狸 qióng shǔ niè lí

DEFINITIONS

  1. a desperate rat will bite the fox (idiom); the smallest worm will turn being trodden on

CHARACTERS

窮 qióng poor, destitute, impoverished
鼠 shǔ
HSK 5
rat, mouse; KangXi radical 208
嚙 niè bite, gnaw
狸 lí fox