得过且过 dé guò qiě guò Make do

Explanation

得过且过，是指只求现状，不思进取，缺乏远大理想和目标，安于现状，不求上进的一种消极人生态度。

The idiom "de guo qie guo" means to be content with the present and not strive for anything better. It describes a passive attitude toward life, lacking ambition and goals.

Origin Story

传说五台山上有一种十分漂亮的寒号鸟，夏天时羽毛特别好看，到处找鸟比美，唱道：“凤凰不如我。”秋天来临，别的鸟要么飞到南方过冬，要么自己筑窝，寒号鸟无动于衷。冬天来临，寒号鸟羽毛掉光，最后被活活地冻死在石缝中。寒号鸟的故事告诉我们，得过且过，不思进取，最终只会落得悲惨的下场。

chuán shuō wǔ tái shān shàng yǒu yī zhǒng shí fēn piào liàng de hán hào niǎo, xià tiān shí yǔ máo tè bié hǎo kàn, dào chù zhǎo niǎo bǐ měi, chàng dào: “fèng huáng bù rú wǒ.” qiū tiān lái lín, bié de niǎo yào me fēi dào nán fāng guò dōng, yào me zì jǐ zhù wō, hán hào niǎo wú dòng yú zhōng. dōng tiān lái lín, hán hào niǎo yǔ máo diào guāng, zuì hòu bèi huó huó de dòng sǐ zài shí fèng zhōng. hán hào niǎo de gù shì gào sù wǒ men, dé guò qiě guò, bù sī jìn qǔ, zuì zhōng zhǐ huì luò de bēi cǎn de xià chǎng.

Legend has it that there is a very beautiful bird called

Usage

得过且过这个成语常用于批评那些安于现状、不思进取的人。它也用来形容一种消极的人生态度。

dé guò qiě guò zhè ge chéng yǔ cháng yòng yú pī píng nà xiē ān yú xiàn zhuàng, bù sī jìn qǔ de rén. tā yě yòng lái xíng róng yī zhǒng xiāo jí de rén shēng tài dù.

The idiom "de guo qie guo" is often used to criticize people who are content with the status quo and lack ambition. It is also used to describe a passive attitude towards life.

Examples

• 他整天得过且过，不思进取，这样怎么会有出息呢？

  tā zhěng tiān dé guò qiě guò, bù sī jìn qǔ, zhè yàng zěn me huì yǒu chū xī ne?

  He just lives from day to day without any ambition. How can he succeed?

• 我们应该积极进取，而不是得过且过。

  wǒ men yīng gāi jī jí jìn qǔ, ér bù shì dé guò qiě guò.

  We should be proactive and ambitious, rather than just getting by.

• 不要得过且过，要努力追求梦想。

  bù yào dé guò qiě guò, yào nǔ lì zhuī qiú mèng xiǎng

  Don't just live from day to day, strive for your dreams!

Related Idioms

• 安于现状

• 不思进取

• 随遇而安

Opposite Idioms

• 奋发图强

• 积极向上

• 精益求精