Definition
糊口 is a verb-object compound (离合词, separable verb) meaning 'to make a living', but it carries a strong connotation of barely scraping by — just enough to feed oneself. When you want to add modal elements or negatives, the two parts separate: 糊 + 得/不 + 了 + 口 (e.g. 糊不了口 'can't make a living') or 糊 + 着 + 口 (e.g. 糊着口过日子). You cannot place an object after 糊口 — use 靠... to indicate the means.
v.o.
to make a living (usually barely enough to get by)
Examples
- 糊口。Tā kào zuò xiǎo shēngyi miǎnqiǎng hú kǒu.He barely makes a living by running a small business.
- ，。Tā yì rén gōngzuò, què hú bù liǎo quánjiā de kǒu.He works alone but can't support the whole family.
- 糊口。Nàge niándài hěnduō nóngmín kào zhòng dì hú kǒu.In those years many farmers made a living by farming.
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