(allusion to Tao Qian 陶潛|陶潜[Tao2 Qian2], who used this phrase when he resigned from government service rather than show subservience to a visiting inspector) to bow and scrape for five pecks of rice (that being a part of his salary as a local magistrate); (fig.) to compromise one's principles for the sake of a salary
trad. 為五斗米折腰
Also written 為五斗米折腰【wèi wǔ dǒu mǐ zhé yāo】