东食西宿 — “To be greedy and try to get benefits from all possible sources”
东食西宿 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be greedy and try to get benefits from all possible sources”. To want the best of both worlds. Literally, “Eat in the east, sleep in the west”.
东食西宿 Pronunciation and Pinyin
东食西宿 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 东食西宿
Origin and Story of 东食西宿
There was once a man in the State of Qi who had a daughter. Two families came to propose marriage. The suitor from the East was ugly but wealthy, while the suitor from the West was handsome but poor.
The parents were undecided, so they asked their daughter to choose. They told her, "If you find it difficult to speak, just expose one of your arms so we know your preference."
The daughter then exposed both of her arms. Her parents were puzzled and asked for her reason.
The daughter replied, "I wish to eat at the East family's house and sleep at the West family's house."
This is the origin of the saying, 'exposing both arms,' or 'Dong Shi Xi Su' (eating in the East and sleeping in the West), symbolizing someone who wants to have the best of both worlds.
Idioms Related to 东食西宿
More idioms starting with 东
- dōng东yī一xià下xī西yī一xià下act aimlessly or erratically
- dōng东dǎo倒xī西wāi歪staggering and lopsided
- dōng东tōu偷xī西mō摸pilfer here and there
- dōng东tù兔xī西wū乌The relentless passage of time
- dōng东chōng冲xī西jué决floodwaters gushing and breaching banks
- dōng东chōng冲xī西zhuàng撞rush about aimlessly
- dōng东chōng冲xī西tū突charge and attack in all directions
- dōng东láo劳xī西yàn燕friends or lovers separating
- dōng东nán南zhī之bǎo宝outstanding talents from the Southeast
- dōng东nán南zhī之xiù秀Outstanding talents from the Southeast
- dōng东nán南zhī之měi美Eminence of the Southeast
- dōng东nán南bàn半bì壁southeastern half of the country
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Open the tool →Questions about 东食西宿
What does 东食西宿 mean?
东食西宿 (dōng shí xī sù) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be greedy and try to get benefits from all possible sources”.
How do you pronounce 东食西宿?
东食西宿 is pronounced dōng shí xī sù in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 东食西宿 literally mean?
Literally, 东食西宿 means “Eat in the east, sleep in the west”. It is used to mean “to be greedy and try to get benefits from all possible sources”.
Where does 东食西宿 come from?
东食西宿 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 东食西宿?
比喻贪婪的人各方面的好处都要。