饥不择食 hunger doesn't choose food
Explanation
形容人因为饥饿而顾不上选择食物,什么都吃。也比喻因急需而顾不上选择。
Describes someone who is not picky about food due to hunger and eats anything. It can also mean that one does not make a choice due to urgent needs.
Origin Story
话说唐朝时期,有个书生名叫李白,他从小就喜好读书,对知识有着强烈的渴望。一次,他去京城赶考,路途遥远,盘缠有限。走到半路,他的钱财已经花光,囊中羞涩,饥饿难耐。他走投无路,只好沿街乞讨。这时,他看到一个农家院子里,堆着一堆烂菜叶,一些被虫蛀的果子,还有几根发霉的玉米棒子。饥饿难耐的他,顾不上这些食物是否干净,也不去考虑它们是否健康,他一把抓起那些食物,狼吞虎咽地吃了起来。他吃得又快又猛,全然忘记了自身的形象,只顾着填饱肚子。吃完之后,他感觉舒服多了,继续赶路,最终到达京城,参加考试。虽然结果不如意,但他这种饥不择食的精神,却令人敬佩。
It is said that during the Tang Dynasty, there was a scholar named Li Bai who loved reading since childhood and had a strong desire for knowledge. Once, he went to the capital to take the imperial examination. The journey was long, and he had limited money. Halfway through, his money had run out, and he was penniless and hungry. Desperate, he had to beg in the streets. At this time, he saw in a farmhouse yard a pile of rotten vegetable leaves, some worm-eaten fruits, and a few moldy corn cobs. Overwhelmed by hunger, he didn't care whether these foods were clean or healthy. He grabbed these foods and devoured them greedily. He ate quickly and fiercely, completely forgetting his own image, only caring about filling his stomach. After eating, he felt much better and continued his journey, finally arriving in the capital to take the exam. Although the result was unsatisfactory, his spirit of not being picky when hungry was admirable.
Usage
用于形容人因为饥饿而什么都吃,也比喻因急需而顾不上选择。
Used to describe someone who eats anything because of hunger, and can also mean that one does not make a choice due to urgent needs.
Examples
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逃难时,他饥不择食,抓起什么就吃什么。
táonàn shí, tā jībùzéshí, zhuā qǐ shénme jiù chī shénme
He ate whatever he could find during the escape, as he was starved.
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连续几天赶路,他饥肠辘辘,饥不择食地吃起了路边摊上的东西。
liánxù jǐ tiān gǎn lù, tā jīchánglùlù, jībùzéshí de chī qǐ le lùbiān tān shang de dōngxi
After several days of travel, he was ravenous and ate whatever he could find at the street stall.