Rén shì tiě; fàn shì gāng;* (yī dùn bù chī, è de huāng).

人是鐵, 飯是鋼; (一頓不吃, 餓得慌)。

Lit People are [like] iron; food is [like] steel; (if one misses a meal, one will become weak from hunger).

Fig Humans are like (naturally occurring) iron; food makes them like steel; (even a strong and healthy person will become weak from lack of food).

Note [Rhyme; the first half is a very popular saying; the second half may be omitted; cf. Yuè Fēi Zhuàn, chap. 31.]

Topics FOOD HEALTH HUNGER rhyme STRENGTH WEAKNESS Yuè_Fēi_Zhuàn