seek personal gain shamelessly like dogs and flies
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to seek personal gain in a shameless and opportunistic way, like dogs and flies
derogatoryVariant of 蝇营狗苟. Used to criticize unscrupulous behavior for personal profit. The phrase is recorded in Tang poetry and later prose as a condemnation of corrupt officials.
Tā这
xiē些
guān官
yuán员
gǒu狗
gǒu苟
yíng蝇
yíng营
，
zhǐ只
guān关
xīn心
zì自
jǐ己
de的
lì利
yì益
。
These officials seek personal gain shamelessly, caring only about their own interests.
Tā他
bù不
xiè屑
yú于
gǒu狗
gǒu苟
yíng蝇
yíng营
，
nìng宁
yuàn愿
guò过
qīng清
pín贫
de的
shēng生
huó活
。
He disdains shameless opportunism and would rather live a life of poverty.
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Zài在
nà那
gè个
fǔ腐
bài败
de的
cháo朝
dài代
，
guān官
yuán员
men们
gǒu狗
gǒu苟
yíng蝇
yíng营
，
bǎi百
xìng姓
kǔ苦
bù不
kān堪
yán言
。
In that corrupt dynasty, officials scrambled for personal gain like dogs and flies, while the common people suffered unspeakably.