不为五斗米折腰

不为五斗米折腰:

Literally means:

unwilling to forsake one's dignity for material gains

Actually means:

In Jin Dynasty, 5 Dou rice was the salary for a county magistrate, and later it refers to an insignificant benefit. Zheyuo means bowing low to show courtesy to one's superiors, and it implies that one forsakes his dignity, obeying or succumbing to others.

This phrase figuratively means that someone cherishes his sense of superiority and his moral integrity, unwilling to trade a certain material interest for his own dignity. Commendatory.

五斗米，晋朝县官的薪水，后指微薄的利益。折腰，弯腰行礼，指不顾尊严顺从别人或向人屈服。

不为五斗米折腰，比喻为人清高，有骨气，不愿牺牲自己的气节去换取某种物质利益。具有褒义色彩。