忍饥挨饿

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: rěn jī ái è
• English Translation: To endure hunger and suffer from starvation
• Idiom Composition: 「忍」（To endure, to tolerate）＋「饥」（Hunger）＋「挨」（To endure, to suffer）＋「饿」（Starvation）
• Meaning: To endure hunger and starvation. It describes a situation of extreme poverty or hardship where food is scarce and life is very difficult.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「忍饥挨饿」 contains the following nuances:

• Extreme hardship: Refers to a severe state of hunger that threatens life, not just ordinary hunger.
• Prolonged suffering: Indicates that the hardship is not temporary but lasts for a considerable period.
• Passive endurance: Describes enduring suffering imposed by external circumstances, not by choice.
• Physical and mental suffering: Implies not only physical pain caused by hunger but also the accompanying mental anguish.

3. Usage

「忍饥挨饿」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Describing poverty and disasters: Used to depict people suffering extreme poverty and hunger caused by war, famine, natural disasters, and similar events.
  • Example:「在那场大饥荒中，许多农民不得不忍饥挨饿，生活极其艰难。」
    （During that great famine, many farmers had to endure hunger and starvation, and life was extremely difficult.）
• Overcoming hardship: Sometimes used to express persevering through hardship and striving towards a goal without giving up.
  • Example:「为了实现梦想，他不得不忍饥挨饿，努力工作。」
    （To achieve his dream, he had to endure hunger and starvation and work hard.）

Additional Examples:

1. 战争期间，许多难民忍饥挨饿，流离失所。
   （During the war, many refugees endured hunger and starvation and were displaced.）
2. 在这次经济危机中，许多家庭不得不忍饥挨饿，生活陷入困境。
   （During this economic crisis, many families had to endure hunger and starvation, falling into hardship.）
3. 尽管生活条件艰苦，但他依然坚持学习，忍饥挨饿也不放弃。
   （Despite harsh living conditions, he continued studying and did not give up even while enduring hunger and starvation.）
4. 旧社会，穷人终年忍饥挨饿，过着牛马不如的生活。
   （In the old society, poor people endured hunger and starvation all year round, living worse than cattle and horses.）
5. 探险队员们在荒无人烟的沙漠中忍饥挨饿，顽强地寻找着水源。
   （The explorers endured hunger and starvation in the deserted desert, persistently searching for water.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• History of hardship in China: Chinese history includes frequent famines caused by wars and natural disasters. The idiom '忍饥挨饿' reflects this history of suffering.
• Virtues of diligence and endurance: Traditional Chinese culture values diligence and endurance as virtues. However, '忍饥挨饿' refers to suffering imposed by external factors rather than chosen hardships, so it is not always regarded as a virtue.
• Usage in modern society: With improved living standards in modern China, the literal use of '忍饥挨饿' has decreased. Nevertheless, it is still used metaphorically or in historical contexts.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 饥寒交迫 (jī hán jiāo pò): The simultaneous suffering from hunger and cold; represents extreme poverty.
  • 食不果腹 (shí bù guǒ fù): Not having enough food to fill one's stomach.
  • 衣不蔽体 (yī bù bì tǐ): Clothing is insufficient to cover the body.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 丰衣足食 (fēng yī zú shí): Having ample clothing and food; representing a wealthy life.
  • 衣食无忧 (yī shí wú yōu): Having no worries about clothing or food.

6. Summary

'忍饥挨饿' is a profound idiom rooted in Chinese history and culture. It expresses not just ordinary hunger but a severe state of starvation that threatens life, along with the physical and mental suffering that accompanies it. Understanding this idiom can deepen your insight into Chinese history and social issues. It is also used metaphorically, so its meaning should be interpreted according to context.