sell official posts and titles; venality; corruption
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to sell government offices and titles for personal gain; corrupt practice of venality
formalOriginally described the corrupt practices of feudal officials. Now used metaphorically to criticize corruption in power. Strong negative connotation. Often appears in historical or political commentary.
Dōng东
Hàn汉
mò末
nián年
，
cháo朝
tíng廷
fǔ腐
bài败
，
mài卖
guān官
yù鬻
jué爵
de的
xiàn现
xiàng象
shí十
fēn分
yán严
zhòng重
。
In the final years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the court was so corrupt that the practice of selling official posts was rampant.
Zhè这
zhǒng种
mài卖
guān官
yù鬻
jué爵
de的
gōu勾
dàng当
，
zuì最
zhōng终
dǎo导
zhì致
le了
zhěng整
gè个
zǔ组
zhī织
de的
bēng崩
kuì溃
。
Such corrupt dealings of selling offices for profit ultimately led to the organization's collapse.
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Zài在
nà那
gè个
hēi黑
àn暗
de的
nián年
dài代
，
mài卖
guān官
yù鬻
jué爵
shèng盛
xíng行
，
bǎi百
xìng姓
kǔ苦
bù不
kān堪
yán言
。
In those dark times, venality was widespread, and the people suffered terribly.
Wǒ我
men们
bì必
xū须
jiān坚
jué决
dù杜
jué绝
mài卖
guān官
yù鬻
jué爵
děng等
fǔ腐
bài败
xíng行
wéi为
。
We must resolutely put an end to corrupt practices such as selling government offices.