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人在江湖，身不由己
rénzàijiānghú,shēnbùyóujǐ
you can't always do as you like / one has to compromise in this world (idiom)
Character Breakdown
人
rén
man, person; people
HSK 1
在
zài
at, in, on; to exist; used to indicate the present progressive tense
HSK 1
江
jiāng
large river; the Yangtze; surname
HSK 4
湖
hú
lake; Hubei, Hunan; bluish-green
HSK 6
身
shēn
body, torso; person; pregnancy
HSK 2
不
bù
no, not, un-; negative prefix
HSK 1
由
yóu
cause, reason; from
HSK 4
己
jǐ
self, oneself; personal, private; 6th heavenly stem
HSK 3
Additional Information
Category
Chinese
HSK Character Level
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HSK Word Level
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