dé得obtainguò过passqiě且temporarilyguò过pass
To muddle along; to drift along; taking each day as it comes.
Literal meaning
obtain (得) — pass (过) — temporarily (且) — pass (过)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing a lack of ambition or planning.
Examples
Tā他xiàn现zài在de的shēng生huó活tài态dù度shì是dé得guò过qiě且guò过。
His current attitude towards life is to muddle along.
Wǒ我men们bù不néng能dé得guò过qiě且guò过，yào要wèi为wèi未lái来zuò做hǎo好guī规huà划。
We cannot just drift along; we need to plan for the future.
Usage & nuances
Often carries a negative connotation, implying a lack of ambition or responsibility.
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