急功近利

Pronunciation: jí gōng jìn lì Literal meaning: Rush achievement near profit

Origin & Usage

Rushing (急) after achievement (功) and after benefit (利) that is near (近). 近 is the operative character: the objection is not to wanting results but to a horizon set so close that only immediate returns are visible. Chinese moral and political writing has used it against officials for centuries, since the incentives of a fixed term produce it reliably. It is the standard criticism of quarterly targets, of teaching to the examination, and of any policy whose payback period is shorter than its consequences.

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