為五斗米折腰 [为－－－－－]

Jyutping wai6 ng5 dau2 mai5 zit3 jiu1
Pinyin wèi wǔ dǒu mǐ zhé yāo

Definitions (粵典–words.hk)
  1. x

為五斗米折腰 [为－－－－－]

Jyutping
Pinyin wèi wǔ dǒu mǐ zhé yāo

Definitions (CC-CEDICT)
  1. (allusion to Tao Qian 陶潛|陶潜[Tao2 Qian2], who used this phrase when he resigned from government service rather than show subservience to a visiting inspector) to bow and scrape for five pecks of rice (that being a part of his salary as a local magistrate)
  2. (fig.) to compromise one's principles for the sake of a salary
Examples (Wiktionary)
  1. Mandarin
    不为五斗米折腰
    不為五斗米折腰
    bù wèi wǔ dǒu mǐ zhé yāo
    • don't bow down for the sake of five pecks (or decalitres) of rice