人为财死,鸟为食亡

rén wèi cái sǐ , niǎo wèi shí wáng

lit. human beings will die for riches, just as birds will for food (idiom)

fig. man will do anything in his means to become rich

rén

person; people

wèi

variant of 為|为[wei4]

cái

money

to die

,

niǎo

bird

wèi

variant of 為|为[wei4]

shí

to eat

wáng

old variant of 亡[wang2]