民不聊生 The people cannot live
Explanation
形容百姓生活困苦，难以生存的状态。
Describes the state in which people live in poverty and can barely survive.
Origin Story
战国时期，群雄逐鹿，各国为了争夺土地和资源，不断发动战争。长期的战争导致百姓流离失所，田地荒芜，粮食歉收。许多人衣不蔽体，食不果腹，甚至饿死街头。到处可见饿殍遍野的惨状，百姓生活在水深火热之中，民不聊生，社会秩序混乱不堪。一时间，怨声载道，民心涣散。这便是战国时期许多国家陷入的困境，也是民不聊生最真实的写照。
During the Warring States period, many powers fought for land and resources, constantly waging wars. The long wars led to the displacement of people, the land lay fallow, and the harvest was poor. Many people were poorly clothed, had little to eat, and even died on the streets. Everywhere one saw the terrible images of starving and dying people. People lived in great hardship and misery, and social order was in complete disarray. Complaints were ubiquitous, and public morale was low. This was the difficult situation in which many countries found themselves during the Warring States period, and a true picture of the people's suffering.
Usage
通常用来形容社会动荡不安，百姓生活困苦的状况。
It is usually used to describe the situation of social unrest and the suffering of the people.
Examples
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战国末年，民不聊生，百姓流离失所。
zhànguó mònián, mín bù liáoshēng, bǎixìng liúlí shīsuǒ
At the end of the Warring States period, the people were suffering from poverty and displacement.
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连年灾荒，导致民不聊生，饿殍遍野。
liánnián zāihuāng, dǎozhì mín bù liáoshēng, èfú biànyě
Years of famine led to widespread suffering, with corpses everywhere.