坐吃山空 sit and eat away the mountain
Explanation
比喻坐享其成，只消费不生产，即使家产再多，最终也会消耗殆尽。
A metaphor for inactivity and wasteful consumption leading to poverty, even if one were once wealthy.
Origin Story
从前，有一个富家子弟，名叫阿福。他继承了祖业，拥有数不清的金银财宝和良田万顷。阿福生性懒惰，整日游手好闲，只知享乐，不知耕耘。他每日里锦衣玉食，挥金如土，家中仆役众多，却从不关心田地收成，也不管家中产业的经营。日子一天天过去，阿福的财富逐渐减少，可他依然不思进取。几年后，他家中的金银财宝消耗殆尽，良田也荒芜一片，最后不得不变卖家产，过着贫困潦倒的生活。阿福的经历就是“坐吃山空”的真实写照，告诫人们要勤劳致富，不能坐享其成，否则即使家财万贯，也会最终一贫如洗。
Once upon a time, there was a rich young man named A-Fu who inherited a vast fortune from his ancestors. Instead of working, he spent his days in leisure and squandered his wealth. He lived a life of luxury and didn't pay attention to the management of his land and other assets. Day by day, his wealth dwindled, yet he continued to live without a care. After several years, his fortune was gone, his land was barren, and he was forced to sell his remaining possessions to live a life of poverty. A-Fu's story serves as a perfect example of the idiom “zuò chī shān kōng”, a warning against living off past successes without investing in the future.
Usage
常用于劝诫人们要勤劳致富，不可坐享其成。
Often used to warn people to be diligent and not live solely on past achievements.
Examples
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他挥霍无度，坐吃山空，家产败尽。
ta huihuō wú dù, zuò chī shān kōng, jiāchǎn bài jìn.
He squandered his fortune and eventually became penniless./ Those who consume without producing will become impoverished.
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坐吃山空，终将一事无成。
zuò chī shān kōng, zhōng jiāng yīshì wú chéng
Sitting and eating until everything is gone will ultimately lead to nothing worthwhile being achieved.