拆东墙补西墙 demolish the east wall to repair the west wall
Explanation
比喻临时勉强应付，不是长久之计。
A metaphor for a temporary and inadequate solution that is not sustainable.
Origin Story
从前，有个穷秀才，为了参加科举考试，四处借钱。考试在即，他却囊空如洗。无奈之下，他只好变卖家里的东西，凑足路费。可是到了京城，住处、伙食等费用又让他捉襟见肘。他灵机一动，把家里祖传的玉佩偷偷典当了，换来了一些银两，解决了燃眉之急。可是没过几天，他又身无分文。他急得团团转，最后想到一个办法：把典当玉佩换来的银子拿去赌博，想以此来摆脱困境。结果可想而知，他输得精光。就这样，他一直拆东墙补西墙，最终还是没能坚持到考试结束。
Once upon a time, there was a poor scholar who borrowed money to prepare for the imperial examinations. However, just before the examination, he was penniless. In desperation, he sold his belongings to raise the travel expenses. But in the capital, the costs of accommodation and food made him hard pressed. In a flash of inspiration, he secretly pawned his ancestral jade pendant, exchanging it for some silver to solve his immediate problem. But a few days later, he was broke again. He was very anxious, and finally came up with an idea: to use the money obtained from the pawned jade pendant to gamble, hoping to get out of his predicament. As expected, he lost everything. In this way, he kept patching things up, but in the end still couldn't last until the end of the examination.
Usage
用于形容临时应付，不是长久之计。
Used to describe a temporary solution that is not sustainable.
Examples
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他总是拆东墙补西墙，勉强维持生计。
ta zong shi chai dong qiang bu xi qiang, mian qiang wei chi sheng ji.
He always patches things up temporarily to make ends meet.
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公司面临资金短缺，只能拆东墙补西墙，应付眼前的危机。
gong si mian lin zi jin duan que, zhi neng chai dong qiang bu xi qiang, ying fu yan qian de wei ji
The company is facing a funding shortage and has to make do with temporary fixes to cope with the immediate crisis.