竭泽而渔 jié zé ér yú

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. to drain the pond to get at the fish (idiom)
  2. fig. to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs

CHARACTERS

竭 jié
HSK 6
put forth great effort; exhaust
泽 zé
HSK 6
marsh, swamp; grace, brilliance
而 ér
HSK 3
and; and then; and yet; but
渔 yú
HSK 6
to fish; seize; pursue; surname