饭来张口 fàn lái zhāng kǒu Food comes to the mouth

Explanation

指不劳而获,坐享其成。形容人懒惰,依赖他人。

Refers to someone who gains without effort, enjoying the fruits of others' labor without contributing themselves.

Origin Story

从前,有一个富家公子,从小锦衣玉食,什么事情都不用自己动手,饭来张口,衣来伸手。一天,他突发奇想,想去体验一下普通百姓的生活。他来到一个农村,在一个农户家做起了短工。第一天,他干活时,累得腰酸背痛,晚上回到住处,饭菜已经准备好,但他却怎么也吃不下。他向农户诉苦,农户笑着说:"公子,您从小饭来张口,哪里吃过这种苦?"公子这才明白,舒适的生活都是他人劳作的成果,他开始反省自己,并决心以后要努力自食其力。

cóngqián, yǒu yīgè fùjiā gōngzǐ, cóng xiǎo jǐnyīyùshí, shénme shìqíng dōu bù yòng zìjǐ dòngshǒu, fàn lái zhāng kǒu, yī lái shēn shǒu. yītiān, tā tūfā qíxiǎng, xiǎng qù tǐyàn yīxià pǔtōng bǎixìng de shēnghuó. tā lái dào yīgè nóngcūn, zài yīgè nónghù jiā zuò qǐ le duǎn gōng. dì yītiān, tā gàn huó shí, lèi de yāosūnbèitòng, wǎnshàng huí dào zhù chù, fàncài yǐjīng zhǔnbèi hǎo, dàn tā què zěnme yě chī bù xià. tā xiàng nónghù sùkǔ, nónghù xiàozhe shuō: 'gōngzǐ, nín cóng xiǎo fàn lái zhāng kǒu, nǎlǐ chī guò zhè zhǒng kǔ?' gōngzǐ cái cǐ míngbái, shūshì de shēnghuó dōu shì tārén láozuò de chéngguǒ, tā kāishǐ fǎnxǐng zìjǐ, bìng juéxīn yǐhòu yào nǔlì zìshíqílì.

Once upon a time, there was a rich young master who had lived a life of luxury since childhood. Everything was done for him; he never lifted a finger. One day, he had a whim to experience the life of an ordinary peasant. He went to a rural village and worked as a day laborer for a farmer. On the first day, he worked so hard that his back ached. When he returned to his quarters, his meal was ready, but he couldn’t eat. He complained to the farmer, who smiled and said, "Young master, you've been waited on hand and foot your whole life; when have you ever suffered like this?" The young master realized then that his comfortable life was the result of others’ labor. He began to reflect on his behavior and resolved to become self-reliant.

Usage

用于形容人懒惰,依赖他人,不事生产。

yòng yú xiáoróng rén lǎnduò, yīlài tārén, bùshì shēngchǎn

Used to describe someone who is lazy, dependent on others, and unproductive.

Examples

  • 他从小娇生惯养,饭来张口,衣来伸手,从未吃过苦。

    tā cóng xiǎo jiāoshēng guànyǎng, fàn lái zhāng kǒu, yī lái shēn shǒu, cóng wèi chī guò kǔ.

    He was spoiled since childhood, accustomed to being fed and clothed, and never suffered hardship.

  • 在舒适的环境中长大,他养成了饭来张口的习惯。

    zài shūshì de huánjìng zhōng zhǎng dà, tā yǎng chéng le fàn lái zhāng kǒu de xíguàn.

    Growing up in a comfortable environment, he developed the habit of being waited on hand and foot.

  • 不要总是饭来张口,要学会独立生活。

    bùyào zǒngshì fàn lái zhāng kǒu, yào xuéhuì dú lì shēnghuó

    Don't always expect to be waited on; learn to live independently.