急功近利
急功近利 (jí gōng jìn lì) literally means “rush achievement near profit” and expresses “seek quick success and immediate benefit”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: ji gong jin li, ji gong jin li,急功近利 meaning, 急功近利 in english
Seek quick success and immediate benefit
Pronunciation: jí gōng jìn lì Literal meaning: Rush achievement near profit
Origin & Usage
Tang Dynasty court critics first used this phrase to condemn officials rushing achievements (急功) for immediate benefits (近利). Song Dynasty Neo-Confucian philosophers expanded it into a broader warning about the dangers of prioritizing speed over proper development. The spatial metaphor of 'near' (近) benefits perfectly captured the shortsightedness of sacrificing lasting value for quick gains. Modern business ethics still wrestles with these same tensions.
Examples
English: "The hasty development project prioritized quick returns over quality and sustainability"
Chinese: 这个仓促的开发项目优先考虑快速回报，而非质量和可持续性
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
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一模一样
yī mú yī yàng
Exactly identical
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以心换心
yǐ xīn huàn xīn
Treat others as yourself
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海纳百川
hǎi nà bǎi chuān
Accept all with open mind
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以和为贵
yǐ hé wéi guì
Value harmony above all
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同舟共济
tóng zhōu gòng jì
Face challenges together
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风雨同舟
fēng yǔ tóng zhōu
Share hardships together
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春风化雨
chūn fēng huà yǔ
Gentle, nurturing influence
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 急功近利 mean in English?
急功近利 (jí gōng jìn lì) literally translates to “Rush achievement near profit” and is used to express “Seek quick success and immediate benefit”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 急功近利 used?
Situation: The hasty development project prioritized quick returns over quality and sustainability
What is the pinyin for 急功近利?
The pinyin pronunciation for 急功近利 is “jí gōng jìn lì”.