衣食住行 yī-shí-zhù-xíng the basics of life - clothing, food, housing, travel
literally clothing, food, housing and transportation (idiom); figuratively people's basic needs
How to remember 衣食住行: 衣 clothes + 食 food + 住 live in + 行 go = the basics of life - clothing, food, housing, travel.
Characters
How it is used
- Set idiom listing life's basics: clothing, food, housing, transport - 衣食住行都要花钱 (yī-shí-zhù-xíng dōu yào huāqián) all daily necessities cost money.
- Used as a fixed four-item phrase to mean 'everyday needs / cost of living'; keep the order.
- Functions as a noun chunk for the sum of daily-life expenses/concerns.
Example sentences
- 孩子们的衣食住行靠的是他们的父母。 Háizi men de yīshízhùxíng kào de shì tāmen de fùmǔ.Children depend on their parents for food, clothing and shelter.