泥菩萨过河，自身难保ní pú sà guò hé , zì shēn nán bǎo

like a clay idol fording a river—hardly able to save oneself (let alone anyone else)
❍ 蒋介石本人是泥菩萨过江，自身难保。(周立波《暴风骤雨》51) Even Chiang Kai-shek can’t save himself any more than a clay idol can save itself while swimming across a river.
❍ 县府里哇，我看是‘泥菩萨过江——自身难保’啰，…… (罗广斌、杨益言《红岩》269) As for the county officials,they’re like a bunch of clay idols crossing a river—each one’s looking out for his own survival.

泥菩萨过河，自身难保ni pu sa guo he,zi shen nan bao

like a clay idol fording a river—hardly able to save oneself,let alone assist others