风餐露宿
fēng cān lù sù
to eat in the wind and sleep in the open; to endure the hardships of life outdoors
Character by character
风fēng
wind
wind
餐cān
meal
meal
露lù
dew
dew
宿sù
lodge
lodge
Example
为了拍到雪豹，摄影师在山里风餐露宿了一个多月。
To get pictures of snow leopards, the photographer spent more than a month roughing it in the mountains.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Said of travellers, soldiers, surveyors and film crews on location, and of anyone whose work keeps them out in all weathers: 一路风餐露宿, 风餐露宿地赶路. It stresses hardship borne, so it often comes in praise of the people who bear it.
Learn this in Lesson 233 · HSK 9+: 横店的群演 (The extras of Hengdian)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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