坛子里的豆芽，伸不起腰罈子里的豆芽，伸不起腰罈子里的豆芽，伸不起腰

Bean sprouts in a jar: they can't straighten their backs

Saying俗语俗語

Two-part saying歇后语歇後語 · Rarely used now

Meaning: Describes someone who is constantly bullied and has to live in grievance, unable to stand up for themselves.
Wordplay: 伸腰 (shēn yāo) means literally to stretch the back, and figuratively to stand up and stop being pushed around.

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Simplified: 坛子里的豆芽，伸不起腰
Traditional (Taiwan): 罈子里的豆芽，伸不起腰
Pinyin: tánzi lǐ de dòuyá, shēn bù qǐ yāo
Bopomofo: ㄊㄢˊ ˙ㄗㄌㄧˇ ˙ㄉㄜㄉㄡˋ ㄧㄚˊ，ㄕㄣㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧˇ ㄧㄠ

Written with HSK 5 vocabulary, at CEFR level B2.

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