各取所需 (gè qǔ suǒ xū) — each takes what they need; everyone gets what t…

Definition

A four-character idiom meaning each person takes what they need — used to describe a fair, need-based distribution rather than equal sharing.

idiom

each takes what they needeveryone gets what they require

各取所需，。
Dà jiā gè qǔ suǒ xū, shuí yě bié duō ná.
Everyone takes what they need; nobody should take extra.
，各取所需，。
Zài zhè ge shì chǎng lǐ, mǎi mai shuāng fāng gè qǔ suǒ xū, gōng píng jiāo yì.
In this market, buyers and sellers each take what they need and trade fairly.
各取所需。
Wǒ men àn zhào gè qǔ suǒ xū de yuán zé fēn pèi wù zī.
We distribute supplies according to the principle of each taking what they need.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

夂口各

各 shows a sole of a foot (夂) coming into an entrance (口), for the sense of coming or entering.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

耳又取

取 pairs 又 (hand) with 耳 (ear), showing a hand taking an ear, as in taking the ear of fallen prey.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

戶斤所

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

戶

戶hù所suǒ

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

所 pairs 斤, an axe, with 戶, which gives the sound hù; the old meaning was the sound of logging.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

需 originally showed 天, here a person, under 雨, rain, as someone getting wet.