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Chinese phrase breakdown: 民以食为天

Not a Dictionary · Sentence Card
民 以食为天 。
The people regard food as their heaven. — Food is the primary necessity of the people.
民 mín “the people” 🔊
以食为天 yǐ shí wéi tiān “regard food as heaven” 🔊

A foundational concept in Chinese political and social philosophy, emphasizing that food is the most essential need for the people, and thus the foundation of a stable society.

民 (“THE PEOPLE”)

The common populace. In classical Chinese political thought, the well-being of the 民 is the ultimate measure of a ruler’s legitimacy.

以食为天 (“REGARD AS HEAVEN”)

To treat food as the highest, most fundamental priority. The phrase underscores that without sustenance, all other pursuits are meaningless.

Core Philosophy: This proverb is often cited to argue that governance must first ensure the people’s basic needs (food security) before anything else. It is a timeless reminder of the importance of agriculture and food policy.

Classical structure: Subject + 以…为…
民 + 以食为天
[Subject] + [regard food as heaven]

This is a classical Chinese construction where the pattern 以…为… means “to regard X as Y” or “to use X as Y”.

Here, it literally translates to “The people [regard] food [as] heaven.” The phrase is concise, elegant, and deeply resonant in its simplicity.

EXAMPLE 1 · POLICY DISCUSSION
政府 zhèngfǔ • government 必须 bìxū • must 把 bǎ • [object marker] 农业 nóngyè • agriculture 放在 fàngzài • put at 首位 shǒuwèi • top priority ， 因为 yīnwèi • because 民以食为天 mín yǐ shí wéi tiān • food is the people’s heaven 。
The government must put agriculture first, because the people regard food as their heaven.
EXAMPLE 2 · DAILY WISDOM
无论 wúlùn • no matter 多 duō • how 忙 máng • busy ， 也 yě • also 要 yào • need 好好 hǎohǎo • properly 吃饭 chīfàn • eat meals ， 民以食为天 mín yǐ shí wéi tiān • food is paramount 。
No matter how busy you are, make sure to eat well — food is the people’s heaven.
TARGET SENTENCE
民以食为天。
NOT A DICTIONARY
🏠 TO FEED