吃人家的嘴软,拿人家的手短

chī rén jiā de zuǐ ruǎn , ná rén jiā de shǒu duǎn

lit. the mouth that has been fed by others is soft, the hand that has received doesn't reach (idiom)

fig. one is partial to those from whom presents have been accepted

chī

variant of 吃[chi1]

rén

person; people

jiā

home

de

of; ~'s (possessive particle)

zuǐ

mouth

ruǎn

variant of 軟|软[ruan3]

,

to hold

rén

person; people

jiā

home

de

of; ~'s (possessive particle)

shǒu

hand

duǎn

short