work just to survive; go through the motions
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to work merely to earn a living; to hold a job without dedication or ambition
derogatoryCarries a strong negative connotation of lacking ambition, doing the bare minimum, or working solely for survival rather than career growth or dedication. Often implies idleness or incompetence.
Tā他
zài在
gōng公
sī司
lǐ里
bù不
guò过
shì是
hùn混
shì事
ér而
yǐ已
，
háo毫
wú无
jìn进
qǔ取
xīn心
。
He's just going through the motions at the company, completely lacking any ambition.
Wǒ我
dāng当
chū初
gàn干
nà那
fèn份
gōng工
zuò作
zhǐ只
shì是
wèi为
le了
hùn混
shì事
，
bù不
shì是
zhēn真
de的
xǐ喜
huan欢
。
I only took that job initially just to make ends meet, not because I really liked it.
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
hùn混
shì事
de的
tài态
dù度
zěn怎
me么
néng能
chéng成
jiù就
dà大
shì事
？
How can you accomplish great things with this kind of careless, just-getting-by attitude?