📖 Meaning
To harm public interests for personal gain. It describes corrupt behavior where someone exploits their position to profit at the expense of the collective or organization they serve. The idiom is typically used to criticize selfish and unethical conduct in government or corporate settings.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom reflects a long-standing moral principle in Chinese culture that dates back to ancient Confucian teachings about public service and integrity. Throughout Chinese dynastic history, officials were expected to prioritize the welfare of the state and people above personal enrichment. The phrase encapsulates the recurring problem of corruption that dynasties faced, where greedy officials would embezzle public resources for private benefit. It became a standard criticism in both historical commentary and bureaucratic reform movements.
💡 Example Usage
他利用职务之便损公肥私，最终被纪检部门查处。
He exploited his position to embezzle public resources for personal gain, and was eventually investigated by the disciplinary authorities.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 损公肥私
- Pinyin: sǔn gōng féi sī
- Literal Translation: damage, public, fatten, private
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4