土阶茅屋

土階茅屋
tǔjiēmáowū
  1. lit. earthen steps and a small cottage
  2. frugal living conditions (idiom)

CEDICT

以土为阶，以茅盖屋。形容生活简陋。《周书．卷六．武帝纪下》：「上栋下宇，土阶茅屋，犹恐居之者逸，作之者劳，讵可广厦高堂，肆其嗜欲。」也作「土阶茅茨」。

重編國語辭典

Entry Composition

1 土 tǔ
  1. earth
  2. dust
  3. clay
  4. local
  5. indigenous
  6. crude opium
  7. unsophisticated
  8. one of the eight categories of ancient musical instruments 八音 bāyīn
=2 阶 jiē variant of 阶 jiē
=2 阶 jiē
  1. rank or step
  2. stairs
3 茅屋 máowū thatched cottage

Related entries

土阶茅茨 tǔjiēmáocí
  1. lit. earthen steps and a thatched hut
  2. frugal living conditions (idiom)