析骸以爨

xīháiyǐcuàn

the situation is dire (i.e. during wartime or famine)

Wiktionary

Entry Composition

1 析 xī
  1. to separate
  2. to divide
  3. to analyze
2 骸 hái bones of the body
=3 以 yǐ old variant of 以 yǐ
=3 以 yǐ old variant of 以 yǐ
=3 以 Yǐ abbr. for Israel 以色列 Yǐsèliè
=3 以 yǐ
  1. to use
  2. by means of
  3. according to
  4. in order to
  5. because of
  6. at (a certain date or place)
=4 爨 Cuàn surname Cuan
=4 爨 cuàn
  1. cooking-stove
  2. to cook