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急功近利 (jí gōng jìn lì) — to seek instant gratification (idiom); shortsighted and focused only on immediate gains

Definition

An idiom for chasing quick success and immediate gain at the cost of long-term benefit. Stronger and more self-focused than 急于求成 (just impatient for results); 见利忘义 adds a moral betrayal that this phrase does not.

phrase
to seek instant gratification (idiom)shortsighted and focused only on immediate gains

Examples

  • 急功近利，。
    Zuò yán jiū bù néng jí gōng jìn lì, yào jìng xià xīn lái màn màn jī lěi.
    Doing research requires patience, not short-term gains.
  • 急功近利
    Tā nà zhǒng jí gōng jìn lì de tài dù ràng gōng sī chī le dà kuī
    His shortsighted attitude caused the company a major loss.
  • 急功近利
    Yǒu yuǎn jiàn de lǐng dǎo zhě huì bì miǎn jí gōng jìn lì de jué cè
    A far-sighted leader avoids decisions that only chase quick profits.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
及
及jí急jí
Same sound today

急 pairs 心 (heart) with 及, which gives the sound.

Open 急 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng功gōng
Same sound today

功 puts 力 (strength) beside 工, which gives the sound gōng and means labour or work.

Open 功 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
斤
斤jīn近jìn
Same sound today

近 combines 辶, a walking radical, with 斤, which gives the sound. The walking part fits the idea of moving close to something.

Open 近 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

利 combines 禾 (grain) and 刀 (knife), showing a knife used to cut grain.

Open 利 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Idioms & Set PhrasesPersonality & Traits

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