自じ転てん車しゃ操そう業ぎょう

noun

barely keeping a business going; hand-to-mouth operation

Idiomatic expression likening a struggling business to a bicycle that stays upright only while moving; implies that stopping would mean collapse. Often used in economic or management contexts.

• 資し金きん繰ぐりが厳きびしく、まさに自じ転てん車しゃ操そう業ぎょうの状じょう態たいだ。

  Cash flow is so tight that we're literally running on a shoestring.

• 自じ転てん車しゃ操そう業ぎょうから脱だっ却きゃくするには、抜ばっ本ぽん的てきな改かい革かくが必ひつ要ようだ。

  To break free from hand-to-mouth operation, fundamental reform is necessary.