得过且过 — “To muddle through”
得过且过 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to muddle through”. To be content with just getting by; to take a live-and-let-live attitude without much ambition or long-term planning; to drift along. Literally, “Get by and let it pass”.
得过且过 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- 得dé
- 过guò
- 且qiě
- 过guò
得过且过 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 得过且过
Origin and Story of 得过且过
Legend has it that on Mount Wutai, there lived a very beautiful bird called the "Cold-Calling Bird." In summer, its feathers were exceptionally splendid, and it would fly everywhere, challenging other birds to beauty contests, singing, "Even the phoenix is not as beautiful as I am!"
When autumn arrived, other birds either flew south for winter or built their nests, but the Cold-Calling Bird remained indifferent.
When winter came, the Cold-Calling Bird's feathers all fell out, and it eventually froze to death in a crevice of the rocks, a direct consequence of its 'get by and let it pass' attitude.
Idioms Related to 得过且过
Synonyms of 得过且过
Antonyms of 得过且过
More idioms starting with 得
- dé得yī一wàng望shí十insatiably greedy and never satisfied
- dé得yī一zhī知jǐ己，，sǐ死kě可wú无hèn恨To find a soulmate, die without regret
- dé得bù不cháng偿sàng丧losses outweigh gains
- dé得bù不cháng偿shī失the losses outweigh the gains
- dé得bù不bǔ补shī失gains do not offset losses
- dé得bù不chóu酬shī失gains do not compensate for losses
- dé得yú于xīn心yīng应yú于shǒu手mastery of mind and hand
- dé得rén人sǐ死lì力win people's utmost loyalty and effort
- dé得rén人zhě者chāng昌，，shī失rén人zhě者wáng亡Gain support, thrive; lose support, perish
- dé得rén人qián钱cái财，，yǔ与rén人xiāo消zāi灾take money, avert disaster
- dé得xiū休biàn便xiū休know when to stop
- dé得pián便yi宜mài卖guāi乖gain advantage and then act smug
Questions about 得过且过
- What does 得过且过 mean?
- 得过且过 (dé guò qiě guò) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to muddle through”.
- How do you pronounce 得过且过?
- 得过且过 is pronounced dé guò qiě guò in Mandarin Chinese.
- What does 得过且过 literally mean?
- Literally, 得过且过 means “Get by and let it pass”. It is used to mean “to muddle through”.
- Where does 得过且过 come from?
- 得过且过 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
- What is the Chinese definition of 得过且过?
- 且：暂且。只要能够过得去，就这样过下去。形容胸无大志。