Chinese

		not; no; (negative prefix)	because of; for; to because of; for; to; act as; take...to be; to be; to do; to serve as; to become	five; 5	ladle; dipper; small ladle; dipper; small; big; stars	(measure word) meter; rice	to bow in obeisance
trad. (不為五斗米折腰)		不	為	五	斗	米	折腰
simp. (不为五斗米折腰)		不	为	五	斗	米	折腰

Idiom

不為五斗米折腰

1. to not compromise one's integrity just to earn a small salary in a dead-end job; to not sacrifice one's ideals in order to make a living
   • 2005: anon, 周鸿袆：大丈夫光明磊落 我不是个谦谦君子 (An interview with former Yahoo China executive, Zhou Hongwei: It takes a brave man to be open and frank, modesty has never been my strong suit)

     我對很多年輕人和創業人有一個建議，如果一個人年紀大了，不得不為五斗米折腰的時候沒辦法。但是對於年輕人，對於想創業的新一代的人，還是要有理想主義色彩，不要被物化的東西迷惑住。整天比哪個公司給我的工資更高，或者哪個公司的名氣聽起來更能滿足虛榮心。

     I have a suggestion for the many young people and entrepreneurs out there: if a person is older, there may come a time when he can ill-afford to not sacrifice his ideals in order to make a living. But for the young person, or the next-generation of aspiring entrepreneur, it is better to have an idealist's mindset. Don't be enticed by material things. Don't sit there all day comparing which company will pay you a higher salary, or which company's reputation sounds better capable of satisfying your sense of vanity.