Yī zhōu, yī fàn; dāng sī láizhī-bùyì.

一粥一飯, 當思來之不易。

Lit [In taking a mouthful of] congee or rice, bear in mind that its production is not easy.

Fig Be economical with food.

Note [After the Qing dynasty writer Zhu Bolu's Zhì Jiā Géyán (Family Maxims); note: láizhī-bùyì is a set literary phrase meaning “hard-earned.”]

Topics chengyu Family Maxims FOOD FRUGALITY láizhī-bùyì PRODUCTION Qing dynasty SOURCES Zhì Jiā Géyán Zhu_Bolu