窮鼠嚙狸 qióng shǔ niè lí

even the weak fight back when forced

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

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

Characters

Character Meaning
窮 qióng
poor; destitute; thoroughly
鼠 shǔ HSK 5
mouse; rat
嚙 niè
to gnaw; to erode; variant of 嚙niè
狸 lí
raccoon dog; fox-like animal; variant of 狸lí