自身难保自身不保zì shēn nán bǎobe unable even to protect (/fend for) oneself; cannot even be sure of one’s own safety
❍ 我们～，还去理他？(杜鹏程 《保卫延安》 113) We′re not even sure whether we can take care of ourselves without having to worry about him!/岂不闻古人说的 ‘大丈夫相时而动’，又说 ‘趋吉避凶者为君子’，依老爷这话，不但不能报效朝廷，亦且自身不保：……(《红楼梦》46) Haven’t you heard the old saying “The man of spirit shapes his actions to the passing moment”？ And there’s another old saying: “It is the mark of a gentleman to avoid what is inauspicious.” If you were to act in accordance with what you have just said,not noly would you not be able to show your gratitude to the Emperor,but also you would probably put your own life in danger. 自身难保zì shēn nán bǎo连自己的生命恐怕都保不住。be unable to fend for oneself, be unable even to protect or fend for oneself |