不务正业
不务正业 (bù wù zhèng yè) literally means “neglect one's main job” and expresses “idle and irresponsible”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: bu wu zheng ye, bu wu zheng ye,不务正业 meaning, 不务正业 in english
Idle and irresponsible
Pronunciation: bù wù zhèng yè Literal meaning: Neglect one's main job
Origin & Usage
Not attending to (不务) the proper (正) occupation (业). What makes the phrase sting in Chinese is 正: there is a right thing for a person in their position to be doing, and everything else is by definition a distraction. It is what parents say about a child's hobby that has begun to take up time, and it is applied to companies straying from their core business. Younger speakers now use it affectionately and ironically of their own enthusiasms.
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。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
当务之急
dāng wù zhī jí
Most urgent priority requiring immediate attention
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安居乐业
ān jū lè yè
Live peacefully and work happily
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敬业乐群
jìng yè lè qún
Balance excellence with social harmony
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守正不阿
shǒu zhèng bù ē
Keep integrity without compromise
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改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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风华正茂
fēng huá zhèng mào
At peak of youth's ability
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言归正传
yán guī zhèng zhuàn
Focus on main point
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正人君子
zhèng rén jūn zǐ
Ostentatiously virtuous — now usually sarcastic
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 不务正业 mean in English?
不务正业 (bù wù zhèng yè) literally translates to “Neglect one's main job” and is used to express “Idle and irresponsible”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 不务正业 used?
Situation: He spends all his time on hobbies instead of focusing on his job.
What is the pinyin for 不务正业?
The pinyin pronunciation for 不务正业 is “bù wù zhèng yè”.