English translation of '命根子'

名

1. lifeblood
   ⇒ 经理说,顾客就是我们的命根子。 (Jīnglǐ shuō, gùkè jiùshì wǒmen de mìnggēnzi.) The manager says that the customers are our lifeblood.
   ⇒ 这孩子是全家人的命根子。 (Zhè háizi shì quánjiārén de mìnggēnzi.) This child is the very life of the family.