汉英词典
Chinese-English Dictionary
MEANING OF 泥菩薩過江
Like a clay idol fording a river (hardly able to save oneself)
It means that you can't help but can't help others
ní/nì () sà () guò jiāng
EXAMPLE SENTENCES

对这个地区的喜庆氛围有所抑制的第二个考虑因素是:很多亚洲国家也是泥菩萨过江——自身难保。

The second consideration dampening the regional celebrations is that many Asian countries are suffering from serious problems of their own.

驻安卡拉的一位欧洲大使耸肩说道:“欧洲现在是泥菩萨过江,美国则需要土耳其的支持来维持区域稳定。”

"Europe is too Mired in its own problems and America needs Turkey for regional security," shrugs a European ambassador in Ankara.