seek private gain at public expense; feather one's nest
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to seek private gain at public expense; to enrich oneself at the expense of the public; to feather one's own nest
formalA derogatory four-character idiom (成语) describing corrupt behavior where someone harms public or collective interests for personal benefit. Commonly used in political, legal, and journalistic contexts to criticize corruption, embezzlement, or conflicts of interest.
Yī一
xiē些
guān官
yuán员
lì利
yòng用
zhí职
quán权
sǔn损
gōng公
féi肥
sī私
，
zuì最
zhōng终
shòu受
dào到
le了
fǎ法
lǜ律
de的
zhì制
cái裁
。
Some officials abused their power to seek private gain at public expense and were eventually punished by law.
Sǔn损
gōng公
féi肥
sī私
de的
xíng行
wéi为
shì是
dǎng党
hé和
rén人
mín民
jué绝
duì对
bù不
néng能
róng容
rěn忍
de的
。
The behavior of enriching oneself at the expense of the public is absolutely intolerable to the Party and the people.
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Tā他
yīn因
wèi为
cháng长
qī期
sǔn损
gōng公
féi肥
sī私
bèi被
kāi开
chú除
le了
dǎng党
jí籍
。
He was expelled from the Party for long-term embezzlement for private gain.
Wǒ我
men们
yào要
jiān坚
jué决
dù杜
jué绝
sǔn损
gōng公
féi肥
sī私
de的
xiàn现
xiàng象
。
We must resolutely eliminate the phenomenon of feathering one's nest at public expense.