to humble oneself or act subserviently for a meager salary, in allusion to Tao Qian's refusal to serve for "five pecks of rice"

陶渊明不愿为五斗米折腰，辞官归隐田园。

to sacrifice one's personal integrity or values for the sake of material gain or financial security

许多人为了生存，不得不为五斗米折腰，放弃了最初的理想。