偏安一隅 live in peace in a corner
Explanation
指在一个偏僻的角落苟且偷安。多指国土沦丧后，统治者在残存的一小块土地上苟且偷安。
Refers to surviving in a remote corner. Often used to describe how rulers survive in a small remaining part after the loss of their territory.
Origin Story
公元1127年，金兵南下，北宋灭亡。宋徽宗、宋钦宗被俘，赵构在南京应天府（今河南商丘）即位，史称南宋。由于北方土地尽失，南宋只能在长江以南偏安一隅，苟且偷安，最终无力收复失地，只能在风雨飘摇中苦苦支撑。这便是“偏安一隅”的真实写照，它体现了国家在面对强敌入侵时，无力抵抗，只能退守一方的无奈和悲凉。
In 1127 AD, Jin troops marched south, and the Northern Song Dynasty perished. Huizong and Qinzong, the Song emperors, were captured, and Zhao Gou ascended the throne in Nanjing Yingtianfu (present-day Shangqiu in Henan), known as the Southern Song Dynasty. Due to the loss of northern territories, the Southern Song could only live in a remote corner south of the Yangtze River, barely surviving. Ultimately, it lacked the strength to reclaim lost lands and could only struggle under turbulent conditions. This is the true depiction of "Pian'an Yiyu", representing a nation's helplessness and sorrow when facing a powerful enemy invasion, unable to resist, and forced to retreat to a corner.
Usage
用作宾语、定语；指在残存的土地上苟且偷安。
Used as an object or attributive; describes surviving in a remaining area.
Examples
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南宋偏安一隅，苟延残喘。
NaNsong pian'an yi yu, gouyan can chuan.
The Southern Song Dynasty lived in a remote corner, barely surviving.
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小国偏安一隅，不问世事。
Xiaoguo pian'an yi yu, buwen shishi
The small country lived in a remote corner and did not care about the affairs of the world.