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民以食为天

mín yǐ shí wéi tiān

5-character word Traditional 民以食為天

What 民以食为天 means

1. Food is the God of the people. (idiom); People view food as the primary need.
2. Food first, ethical niceties second

The characters in 民以食为天

• 民mín(bound form) the people; inhabitants of a country
• 以yǐto use; by means of; according to
• 食shíto eat; food; animal feed
• 为wéias (in the capacity of); to take sth as; to act as
• 天tiānday; sky; heaven

Example sentences

• 民以食为天。
  Food is what matters to people.