粗茶淡饭 coarse tea and light rice
Explanation
形容饮食简单，生活简朴。
Describes a simple and frugal lifestyle with simple food.
Origin Story
从前，在一个偏僻的小山村里，住着一位名叫老李的樵夫。他每天清晨便上山砍柴，傍晚归来，家中只有一顿简单的粗茶淡饭。但他从不抱怨，总是笑着面对生活。一日，一位富商路过村庄，见老李家徒四壁，却神情怡然，感到十分好奇。富商走进老李家中，只见桌上摆着几碟青菜和一碗米饭，便问老李为何如此满足。老李笑着说："粗茶淡饭，只要能填饱肚子，就足够了。人生在世，不求荣华富贵，只求平平安安，这便是我的幸福。"富商听了老李的话，深受启发，明白真正的幸福并非来自物质的享受，而是来自内心的平静和满足。从此，他改变了以往奢侈的生活方式，过起了简朴的生活，并在心里默默地感激老李的教诲。
Once upon a time, in a remote mountain village, there lived a woodcutter named Lao Li. Every morning he would go up the mountain to cut wood, and in the evening he would return home with only a simple meal of coarse tea and light rice. But he never complained, always smiling in the face of life. One day, a wealthy merchant passed through the village and saw that Lao Li's house was empty, yet his expression was serene, which he found very curious. The merchant entered Lao Li's house, and saw on the table a few dishes of vegetables and a bowl of rice. He asked Lao Li why he was so content. Lao Li smiled and said, "Coarse tea and light rice, as long as it can fill my stomach, is enough. In life, I don't seek wealth and glory, but only peace and security; this is my happiness." The merchant listened to Lao Li's words and was deeply inspired. He understood that true happiness does not come from material enjoyment, but from inner peace and contentment. From then on, he changed his former extravagant lifestyle and began to live a simple life, silently grateful for Lao Li's teachings in his heart.
Usage
作谓语、宾语、定语；形容饮食简单，生活简朴。
Used as predicate, object or attributive; describes a simple and frugal lifestyle.
Examples
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他们生活简朴，过着粗茶淡饭的日子。
tāmen shēnghuó jiǎnpǔ, guòzhe cū chá dàn fàn de rìzi.
They live a simple life, eating simple meals.
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虽然条件艰苦，但是我们也能够吃粗茶淡饭，满足温饱。
suīrán tiáojiàn jiānkǔ, dànshì wǒmen yě nénggòu chī cū chá dàn fàn, mǎnzú wēnbǎo
Although the conditions are difficult, we can also eat plain food and satisfy our hunger.