📖 Meaning
To use improper or unscrupulous means to gain personal advantage. It also refers to relying on petty cleverness to reap benefits without putting in honest effort. The term carries a negative connotation, criticizing those who seek shortcuts rather than working diligently.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom does not trace back to a single classical text or historical figure. It emerged as a colloquial expression in modern Chinese, reflecting a cultural disdain for those who exploit loopholes and circumvent honest labor. The phrase combines '投机' (seizing opportunities, often opportunistically) with '取巧' (resorting to clever tricks), encapsulating the idea of gaining advantage through cunning rather than merit. It is commonly used in educational and moral contexts to caution against dishonest shortcuts. Over time it has become a standard term in both everyday speech and formal writing.
💡 Example Usage
做生意要讲诚信，靠投机取巧终究不会长久。
In business you must act with integrity; relying on opportunistic tricks will never last.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 投机取巧
- Pinyin: tóu jī qǔ qiǎo
- Literal Translation: seize, opportunity, take, cleverness
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4