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泥菩萨过江，自身难保
泥菩薩過江，自身難保
nípúsàguòjiāng,zìshēnnánbǎo
1.
like a clay Bodhisattva fording a river, can't guarantee his own safety
2.
unable to save oneself, let alone others
Character Breakdown
泥
ní
mud, earth, clay; plaster, paste
HSK 6
8 丶
菩
pú
herb, aromatic plant
11 丶
萨
sà
Buddhist diety; used in transliterations
11 丶
过
guò
pass; to go across, to pass through
HSK 2
6 丶
江
jiāng
large river; the Yangtze; surname
HSK 4
6 丶
自
zì
self; private, personal; from
HSK 3
6 丶
身
shēn
body, torso; person; pregnancy
HSK 2
7 丶
难
nán
hard, difficult, arduous; unable
HSK 3
10 丶
保
bǎo
to safeguard, to protect, to defend, to care for
HSK 4
9 丶
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