竭澤而漁 jié zé ér yú

fig. to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

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

Characters

Character Meaning
竭 jié HSK 6
to exhaust
澤 zé
(of metals etc) luster; damp; moist
而 ér HSK 3
and; but (not); (indicates contrast)
漁 yú
to fish; fisherman