不务正业

Pronunciation: bù wù zhèng yè Literal meaning: Neglect one's main job

Origin & Usage

The idiom 不务正业 (bù wù zhèng yè) is commonly used in classical Chinese literature to describe someone who neglects their main duties or profession to engage in other activities. The phrase first appeared in the Ming dynasty novel 《金瓶梅词话》 (Jīn Píng Méi Cí Huà), where it depicted characters who indulged in idle and irresponsible behavior after losing their parents. The idiom is composed of four characters: 不 (bù, not), 务 (wù, attend to), 正 (zhèng, proper), and 业 (yè, business or profession). In modern usage, it carries a negative connotation and is often used to criticize individuals who are idle, seek leisure, or engage in deceitful practices instead of focusing on their legitimate work.

Examples

English: "He spends all his time on hobbies instead of focusing on his job."

Chinese: 他不务正业，整天沉迷于自己的爱好。