自己家都揭不开锅了
“He doesn't even have enough to support his own family.”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
但他也就是一拿死工资的
“However, he also earns a salary.”
自己 家 都 揭不开锅 了
“He doesn't even have enough to support his own family.”
我嫂子几次提离婚
“My sister-in-law wanted a divorce and tried to take the kids away”
“We can barely afford food ourselves, so stop expecting anything from us.”
The metaphor of not being able to uncover the pot reflects historical memories of food scarcity, commonly used in Chinese culture to dramatize unbearable economic pressure.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
too poor to afford food; living hand-to-mouth
A classic idiomatic idiom used to describe acute poverty or severe cash-flow shortages.
even one's own family
Used to emphasize contrast when someone is expected to help outsiders while struggling themselves.
Indicates a newly reached critical state of extreme financial distress.
