means of support
means of support — 慣用語
1. the money or resources that someone earns or relies on to cover the basic costs
生計來源
用來支付日常生活開銷的收入
the money or resources that someone earns or relies on to cover the basic costs of daily life, such as food, rent, and clothing
After the factory closed, Hamza lost his only means of support and sold the car.
工廠關閉後，Hamza 失去了唯一的生計來源，把車子賣了。
lose [one's] means of support = lose [one's] income
The young widow had no means of support until the village offered her a teaching job.
這位年輕的寡婦一直沒有生計來源，直到村裡提供她一份教書的工作。
no means of support = no way to earn a living
For many retired farmers, a small monthly pension is their main means of support.
對許多退休的農夫來說，每月一筆小小的退休金是他們主要的生計來源。
Valentina worked two jobs because her tiny shop was not a steady means of support.
Valentina 身兼兩份工作，因為她那間小店稱不上是穩定的生計來源。
The court asked whether the children had any other means of support after their parents died.
法院詢問，這些孩子在父母過世後是否還有其他生計來源。
- livelihood
more everyday word for the way someone earns a living
- source of income
neutral, plainer phrasing for the same idea
- breadwinner's wage
narrower; the earnings of the main earner specifically
用法筆記
Most common in formal or legal contexts, often paired with verbs like 'lose', 'have no', or 'provide'. The phrase points to how a person funds basic living costs, not to emotional or practical help.