暴殄天物
bào tiǎn tiān wù
to waste nature’s gifts recklessly
Character by character
暴bào
ravage
ravage
殄tiǎn
destroy
destroy
天tiān
heaven’s
heaven’s
物wù
things
things
Example
这么好的牛肉，你吃两口就扔了，真是暴殄天物。
Such good beef and you threw it out after two bites: what a criminal waste.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
From the Book of Documents (《尚书》), where it condemned a tyrant who ravaged the gifts of nature. 殄 (tiǎn) means to destroy. Bookish, but often said half in jest about wasting good food or a fine thing.
Learn this in Lesson 119 · HSK 7–9: 光盘不该是一阵风 (Editorial: clearing your plate)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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