| 虚不受补 |
xū bù shòu bǔ |
a person who is in poor health cannot handle sth so strong as a tonic |
| 虚 |
xū |
emptiness / void / abstract theory or guiding principles / empty or unoccupied / diffident or timid / false / humble or modest / (of health) weak / virtual / in vain |
| 不 |
bù |
no; not so / (bound form) not; un- |
| 受 |
shòu |
to receive / to accept / to suffer / subjected to / to bear / to stand / pleasant / (passive marker) / (LGBT) bottom |
| 补 |
bǔ |
to repair / to patch / to mend / to make up for / to fill (a vacancy) / to supplement |