饭碗 fànwǎn rice bowl
rice bowl; figuratively livelihood; job; way of making a living
How to remember 饭碗: 饭 meal + 碗 bowl = rice bowl.
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How it is used
- A rice bowl - and, figuratively, one's job / livelihood - 铁饭碗 (tiě fànwǎn) an 'iron rice bowl' (a secure job); 砸了饭碗 (zá le fànwǎn) to lose one's job.
- The metaphor 'rice bowl = means of making a living' is very common and vivid.
- 丢饭碗 = to get fired; colloquial register.