1 lit. to have only nine meals in thirty days (idiom)
2 fig. (of a family) on the brink of starvation
3 in dire straits
人为财死，鸟为食亡
rén wèi cái sǐ , niǎo wèi shí wáng
1 lit. human beings will die for riches, just as birds will for food (idiom)
2 fig. man will do anything in his means to become rich
嗜痂成癖
shì jiā chéng pǐ
1 to have strange and dangerous addictions (idiom)
因噎废食
yīn yē fèi shí
1 lit. not eating for fear of choking (idiom); fig. to cut off one's nose to spite one's face
2 to avoid sth essential because of a slight risk
宵衣旰食
xiāo yī gàn shí
1 to dress before light and not eat before dark (idiom)
2 diligently attending to official matters
寝食难安
qǐn shí nán ān
1 lit. cannot rest or eat in peace (idiom)
2 fig. extremely worried and troubled
废寝忘食
fèi qǐn wàng shí
1 to neglect sleep and forget about food (idiom)
2 to skip one's sleep and meals
3 to be completely wrapped up in one's work
弱肉强食
ruò ròu qiáng shí
1 lit. the weak are prey to the strong (idiom); fig. predatory behavior
2 the law of the jungle
断袖之癖
duàn xiù zhī pǐ
1 lit. cut sleeve (idiom); fig. euphemism for homosexuality, originating from History of Western Han 漢書|汉书: emperor Han Aidi (real name Liu Xin) was in bed with his lover Dong Xian, and had to attend a court audience that morning. Not wishing to awaken Dong Xian, who was sleeping with his head resting on the emperor's long robe sleeve, Aidi used a knife to cut off the lower half of his sleeve.
民以食为天
mín yǐ shí wéi tiān
1 Food is the God of the people. (idiom); People view food as the primary need.
2 Food first, ethical niceties second
灭此朝食
miè cǐ zhāo shí
1 lit. not to have breakfast until the enemy is destroyed
2 anxious to do battle (idiom)
狂饮暴食
kuáng yǐn bào shí
1 drunken gluttony (idiom); eating and drinking to excess
率兽食人
shuài shòu shí rén
1 lit. to lead beasts to eat the people (idiom); fig. tyrannical government oppresses the people
发愤忘食
fā fèn wàng shí
1 so dedicated as to forget one's meals (idiom)
砚田之食
yàn tián zhī shí
1 to make a living by writing (idiom)
节衣缩食
jié yī suō shí
1 to save on food and clothing (idiom); to live frugally
箪食壶浆
dān shí hú jiāng
1 to receive troops with food and drink (idiom)
2 to give troops a hearty welcome
3 also pr. [dān sì hú jiāng]
缩衣节食
suō yī jié shí
1 to economize on clothes and food
2 to scrimp and save (idiom)
自食其力
zì shí qí lì
1 lit. to eat off one's own strength (idiom)
2 fig. to stand on one's own feet
3 to earn one's own living
自食其果
zì shí qí guǒ
1 to eat one's own fruit (idiom); fig. suffering the consequences of one's own action