竭澤而漁 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
澤 zé marsh, swamp; grace, brilliance; damp, moist; fertile
而 ér
HSK 3
and; and then; and yet; but
漁 yú to fish; seize; pursue; surname