寅吃卯粮

lit. eating away next year's food in advance / fig. to dip into the next month's check / live now, pay later

3rd earthly branch: 3-5 a.m., 1st solar month (4th February-5th March), year of the Tiger / ancient Chinese compass point: 60°

to eat / to consume / to eat at (a cafeteria etc) / to eradicate / to destroy / to absorb / to suffer / to stammer (Taiwan pr. for this sense is [ji2])

variant of 吃[chi1]

mortise (slot cut into wood to receive a tenon) / 4th earthly branch: 5-7 a.m., 2nd solar month (6th March-4th April), year of the Rabbit / ancient Chinese compass point: 90° (east) / variant of 鉚|铆[mao3] / to exert one's strength

variant of 卯[mao3]

old variant of 卯[mao3]

grain / food / provisions / agricultural tax paid in grain