色字头上一把刀 sè zì tóu shàng yī bǎ dāo

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. there is a knife above the character for lust
  2. fig. lascivious activities can lead to bitter consequences

CHARACTERS

色 sè
HSK 2
color, tint, hue, shade; form, body; beauty, desire for beauty
字 zì
HSK 1
letter, character, word
头 tóu
HSK 3
head; top; chief, first; boss
上 shàng
HSK 1
top; superior, highest; go up, send up
一 yī
HSK 1
one; a, an; alone
把 bǎ
HSK 3
hold, take; guard; regard as
刀 dāo
HSK 4
knife; old coin; measure