4 characters Idiom and proverb 14 238

We are committed to providing free Chinese study materials. This series focuses on idioms and proverbs, rich in meaning and widely applicable. Today’s idiom is 「苟安一隅」, with its explanation below.

This time, our spotlight is on the idiom 「苟安一隅」. Its meaning and how it’s applied are described below.

Gou’an: to live for the time being; Yiyu: a corner. Refers to a small place. Let’s stay in a small place for the time being. It means that the rulers do not resist foreign invasion. Occupy a small place to find shelter.

The Mandarin pronunciation of this idiom is :

gǒu ān yī yú

while its Cantonese pinyin is :

gau2 on1 yat1 yu4

The world of Chinese idioms is massive, filled with countless expressions, each with distinct meanings and applications. These materials are here to support you as you improve your Chinese skills.