📖 Meaning
Originally referred to Buddhist monks going from house to house with their alms bowls to beg for food. It is now used metaphorically to describe begging from door to door, or living in destitution and relying on charity.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase first appears in the Qing dynasty anonymous work "杜诗言志" (Words Expressing Ambition through Du's Poetry), Volume 1. The passage warns readers to carefully distinguish the poet Du Fu's true circumstances, lest they mistake him for someone who wanders about seeking patronage like a monk begging from door to door. Over time the expression shed its literary context and became a general metaphor for begging house to house.
💡 Example Usage
他破产之后，不得不沿门托钵，靠乞讨度日。
After going bankrupt, he had no choice but to go begging from door to door to make a living.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 沿门托钵
- Pinyin: yán mén tuō bō
- Literal Translation: along door, hold alms bowl
- Category: Lifestyle
- Characters: 4