笑贫不笑娼 xiào pín bù xiào chāng

DEFINITIONS

  1. the notion in society that it's better to get ahead in the world by abandoning one's scruples than to suffer poverty
  2. lit. despising poverty but not prostitution (idiom)

CHARACTERS

笑 xiào
HSK 2
smile, laugh, giggle; snicker
贫 pín
HSK 6
poor, impoverished, needy
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
笑 xiào
HSK 2
smile, laugh, giggle; snicker
娼 chāng prostitute, harlot