损人利己

Pronunciation: sǔn rén lì jǐ Literal meaning: Harm others benefit self

Origin & Usage

The idiom 损人利己 (sǔn rén lì jǐ) is commonly used in classical Chinese literature to describe actions that benefit oneself at the expense of others. While there is no specific origin story tied to this idiom, it is often associated with the ethical and moral discussions found in ancient texts. The characters 损 (sǔn) mean 'harm' or 'damage,' 人 (rén) means 'people' or 'others,' 利 (lì) means 'benefit' or 'profit,' and 己 (jǐ) means 'oneself.' The idiom is used to criticize selfish behavior that disregards the well-being of others for personal gain. In modern contexts, it serves as a caution against opportunistic and unethical actions, emphasizing the importance of altruism and integrity in personal and professional relationships.

Examples

English: "He sabotaged his colleague's project to advance his own career, demonstrating a lack of integrity."

Chinese: 他损人利己，完全不顾同事的努力。