風中燭,瓦上霜 fēng zhōng zhú , wǎ shàng shuāng

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. like a candle in the wind, or frost on the roof (idiom)
  2. fig. (of sb's life) feeble
  3. hanging on a thread

CHARACTERS

風 fēng wind; air; manners, atmosphere
中 zhōng central; center, middle; in the midst of; hit (target); attain
燭 zhú candle, taper; to shine, illuminate
瓦 wǎ tile; earthenware pottery; girl
上 shàng top; superior, highest; go up, send up
霜 shuāng frost; crystallized; candied