Meaning:

careless, just

Origin:

“苟”是“傲”和“警”的本字，字形像一条狗蹲在地上，竖起了双耳。本义是“警惕”。

“苟” is the original version of the character “傲”and “警”. It looks like a dog crouching on the ground, with its two ears erect. The character’s original meaning was “to be on alert.”

Words:

一丝不苟     (yìsībùgǒu): to be conscientious and meticulous

苟安           (gǒu’ān)     : to be content with momentary ease and comfort

苟合         (gǒuhé)       :to agree without justification

苟活        (gǒuhuó)      : to drag out an ignoble existence

苟全        (gǒuquán)    : to preserve one’s own life at all cost
Examples:

1. 他对待任何工作都一丝不苟。

    Tā duìdài rènhé gōngzuò dōu yìsībùgǒu

    He is conscientious and meticulous in all his work.

2. 妻子和孩子都死了，他也不想一个人苟活。

    Qīzi hé háizi dōu sǐ le，tā yě bùxiǎng yíge rén gǒuhuó

    His wife and children had all died; he didn’t want to live on in degradation.