受制于人

shòu zhì yú rén

to be at the mercy of others

Character by character

受shòu
receive

制zhì
control

于yú
from

人rén
others

核心技术必须掌握在自己手里，否则就会受制于人。

Core technology must be in your own hands; otherwise you are at others’ mercy.

Tone: negative (criticism).

Learn this in Lesson 106 · HSK 7–9: 芯片与人工智能 (Chips and artificial intelligence)

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.