不劳而获
不劳而获 (bù láo ér huò) literally means “reap without sowing” and expresses “unearned gain”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: bu lao er huo, bu lao er huo,不劳而获 meaning, 不劳而获 in english
Unearned gain
Pronunciation: bù láo ér huò Literal meaning: Reap without sowing
Origin & Usage
To obtain (获) without (不) labouring (劳). Chinese has a strong and consistent moral vocabulary around this, and the phrase is its plainest statement. It is worth distinguishing from luck, which Chinese does not condemn: what 不劳而获 names is a structural arrangement in which someone else's work produces your return. It is applied to landlords, to middlemen, to inherited position, and by parents to children, in a tone that is usually more disappointed than angry.
Examples
English: "He expected to receive a promotion without putting in any hard work."
Chinese: 他期望不劳而获，得到晋升。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
不辞辛劳
bù cí xīn láo
Tireless dedication
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好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Shirk effort by preference
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一劳永逸
yī láo yǒng yì
Solve a problem once and for all
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劳苦功高
láo kǔ gōng gāo
Great toil and great service rendered
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以逸待劳
yǐ yì dài láo
Rested against the exhausted
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不胫而走
bù jìng ér zǒu
Spread widely and rapidly on its own
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不寒而栗
bù hán ér lì
Fear-induced shivering
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不翼而飞
bù yì ér fēi
Sudden disappearance
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 不劳而获 mean in English?
不劳而获 (bù láo ér huò) literally translates to “Reap without sowing” and is used to express “Unearned gain”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 不劳而获 used?
Situation: He expected to receive a promotion without putting in any hard work.
What is the pinyin for 不劳而获?
The pinyin pronunciation for 不劳而获 is “bù láo ér huò”.