寅吃卯粮 in English yin2 chi1 mao3 liang2 Meaning

Meanings

• literally (word for word) eating away next year's food in advance
• metaphorically to dip into the next month's check
• live now, pay later

Pinyin

yin2 chi1 mao3 liang2

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

寅yin23rd earthly branch: 3-5 a.m., 1st solar month (4th February-5th March), year of the Tiger 吃chi1to eat 卯mao3mortise (slot cut into wood to receive a tenon) 粮liang2grain