not know in the morning what may happen in the evening;anything may happen any time; be in a precarious state; be on the verge of collapse; cannot keep the wolf from the door; hang by a thread; in a critical condition (/state); in imminent danger; like a candle flickering in the wind; live in constant fear for one’s livelihood; living from hand to mouth ❍ 该国的殖民主义统治已是～。The colonialist rule in that country is on the verge of collapse. ❍ 人生几何？谁能无偷？ 朝不及夕，将安用树？ (《左传·襄三十一年》) Man’s life is not long; who can keep from that irrelevancy?The morning may not be followed by the evening; of what use would it be to establish that good under standing?
朝不保夕zhao bu bao xi
not know at dawn what may happen at dusk
朝不保夕
not know in the morning what may happen in the evening;be in a critical condition;be in a precarious state
朝不保夕zhāo bù bǎo xī
朝：早上；夕：晚上。保得住早上，晚上就不一定能保得住。形容情况危急，说不定什么时候就会发生变化。be in a precarious state, in imminent danger, fall at any moment