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死马当活马医

sǐmǎdānghuómǎyī

Traditional: 死馬當活馬醫

lit. to give medicine to a dead horse (idiom); fig. to keep trying everything in a desperate situation

Character Breakdown

死
sǐ
dead; death; impassable, inflexible
HSK 4
马
mǎ
horse; surname
HSK 3
当
dāng
appropriate, timely; to act, to serve; the sound of bells
HSK 3
活
huó
to exist, to live, to survive; living, working
HSK 4
马
mǎ
horse; surname
HSK 3
医
yī
to cure, to heal, to treat; doctor; medicine
HSK 1

Additional Information

Category
Chinese
HSK Character Level
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HSK Word Level
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