(allusion to Tao Qian 陶潛|陶潜[Tao2 Qian2]{tou4 cim4}, who used this phrase when he resigned from government service rather than show subservience to a visiting inspector) to bow and scrape for five pecks of rice (that being a part of his salary as a local magistrate) · (fig.) to compromise one's principles for the sake of a salary
2 Written Forms
Meanings
1(allusion to Tao Qian 陶潛|陶潜[Tao2 Qian2]{tou4 cim4}, who used this phrase when he resigned from government service rather than show subservience to a visiting inspector) to bow and scrape for five pecks of rice (that being a part of his salary as a local magistrate)
2(fig.) to compromise one's principles for the sake of a salary
Written Forms
為五斗米折腰Traditional · Main Form
为五斗米折腰Alternate Form
為五斗米折腰 (wai4 ng5 dau2 mai5 zit3 jiu1) – Cantonese Meaning | Bubblegum Language Learning