偷生 (tōu shēng) — to drag out an ignoble existence; to live on borrowed time (in a degrading way)
Definition
A literary/negative verb meaning to drag out a shameful, degrading existence — survive in name only. Pairs with 苟且 ('just get by') and is much stronger and more judgemental than simply 'live'.
verb
to drag out an ignoble existenceto live on borrowed time (in a degrading way)
Examples
- ，偷生。Zài zhàn luàn zhōng, xǔ duō rén zhǐ néng gǒu qiě tōu shēng.During the war, many people could only drag out an ignoble existence.
- ，偷生。Tā wèi le huó mìng, bù xī tōu shēng yú shì.To stay alive, he didn't hesitate to live a shameful life in the world.
- ，。Tā zài dí guó tōu le jǐ nián shēng, zhōng yú děng dào le huí jiā de jī huì.He survived disgracefully in the enemy country for a few years, finally waiting for a chance to return home.
Appears in
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