hold a post without working; sinecure
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesverb
to hold a position without doing any work; to occupy a post without performing duties; to sinecure
literaryLiterary term often used in formal or critical contexts to describe officials or employees who collect salaries without contributing. Frequently appears in the phrase 尸位素餐.
Shī～
wèi误
wù国
。
Holding a position without working harms the nation.
Nà那
xiē些
shī尸
wèi位
sù素
cān餐
de的
guān官
yuán员
yīng应
gāi该
bèi被
chè撤
zhí职
。
Those officials who hold positions without working should be removed from office.
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Tā他
zài在
zhè这
gè个
zhí职
wèi位
shàng上
zhǐ只
shì是
shī尸
wèi位
，
háo毫
wú无
zuò作
wéi为
。
He merely occupies this position without doing any work, accomplishing nothing at all.
Wǒ我
men们
bù不
néng能
róng容
rěn忍
shī尸
wèi位
de的
xiàn现
xiàng象
jì继
xù续
cún存
zài在
。
We cannot tolerate the continued existence of sinecures.
Shī尸
wèi位
lù禄
hài害
zhèng政
，
shì是
gǔ古
dài代
qīng清
guān官
zuì最
tòng痛
hèn恨
de的
xiàn现
xiàng象
。
Holding positions without working and harming governance was what honest officials of ancient times hated most.