任人宰割 |rèn rén zǎi gē

Meaning: to be taken advantage of

Original: 为了摆脱落后挨打、任人宰割的悲惨命运,中国人民奋起反抗,仁人志士苦苦求索,进行民族复兴的各种尝试,洋务运动试图“师夷长技以制夷”,戊戌变法试图通过改良来图强,孙中山先生领导辛亥革命试图以资产阶级共和国、振兴实业等方案来实现现代化,但都以失败告终。

Usage: This chengyu can be used to describe a person’s temperament and gullibility, as well as nation-states being exploited in the global system.

Source: 以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业

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