ill-gotten wealth; filthy lucre
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
wealth acquired unjustly or immorally; ill-gotten gains
formalThis idiom strongly implies the wealth was obtained through dishonest, corrupt, or immoral means, often violating social norms or laws. It carries a heavy moral judgment.
Tā他
tān贪
wū污
shòu受
huì贿
，
jī积
lěi累
le了
dà大
liàng量
de的
bù不
yì义
zhī之
cái财
，
zuì最
zhōng终
shòu受
dào到
le了
fǎ法
lǜ律
de的
yán严
chéng惩
。
He embezzled and accepted bribes, amassing a great deal of ill-gotten wealth, and was ultimately severely punished by the law.
Gǔ古
rén人
yún云
：
“
bù不
yì义
ér而
fù富
qiě且
guì贵
，
yú于
wǒ我
rú如
fú浮
yún云
。
”
yì意
si思
shì是
jūn君
zǐ子
bù不
qǔ取
bù不
yì义
zhī之
cái财
。
An ancient saying goes, 'Riches and honors acquired by unrighteousness are to me as a floating cloud.' This means a noble person does not take ill-gotten wealth.
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Nà那
xiē些
kào靠
qī欺
zhà诈
dé得
lái来
de的
bù不
yì义
zhī之
cái财
，
zhōng终
jiū究
huì会
gěi给
tā他
dài带
lái来
zāi灾
huò祸
。
The ill-gotten wealth obtained through fraud will ultimately bring disaster upon him.
Tā他
liáng良
xīn心
fā发
xiàn现
，
jué决
dìng定
bǎ把
nà那
xiē些
bù不
yì义
zhī之
cái财
quán全
bù部
juān捐
gěi给
cí慈
shàn善
jī机
gòu构
。
His conscience was awakened, and he decided to donate all that ill-gotten wealth to charity.