瓷饭碗 “ceramic rice bowl” (refers to the practice by which municipal or district authorities take responsibility for the profits and losses of collectively owned by enterprises)
铁饭碗 a secure job; “iron rice bowl” -- a permanent income they would never lose whether they work hard or not; “iron bowl” -- a stable, life-long job 他端的是铁饭碗。 he has a lifelong job
Jim was a plumber s apprentice whose weak chin and hedonistic temperament , coupled with a certain nervous stupidity , promised to take him nowhere in the race for bread and butter 吉姆是个水暖工学徒,不善言词,贪图享受,还加上某些神经过敏的傻气,在抢饭碗的竞争中前途暗淡。