竹たけの子こ生せい活かつ

noun

selling off belongings to make a living

Idiomatic expression likening the gradual selling of one's possessions to peeling the layers of a bamboo shoot. Used for financial hardship where one sells items one after another.

• 失しつ業ぎょうしてからは竹たけの子こ生せい活かつで、本ほんやCDを少すこしずつ売うっている。

  Since losing my job, I've been living by selling off my belongings, selling books and CDs little by little.