惟利是图 (wéi lì shì tú) — to be motivated solely by profit; to put profit above all else

Definition

A formal written chengyu meaning someone puts profit above everything else, with no concern for ethics or others. It's a strong negative judgment, not a neutral description of business sense.

verb
to be motivated solely by profitto put profit above all else
Easily confused

Examples

  • 惟利是图，。
    Zhè ge shāng rén wéi lì shì tú, cóng bú zài hu gù kè de lì yì.
    This businessman is motivated solely by profit and never cares about customers' interests.
  • 惟利是图。
    wéi lì shì tú De gōng sī zuì zhōng huì shī qù shì chǎng.
    Companies that put profit above all else will eventually lose the market.
  • 惟利是图。
    Tā wéi lì shì tú de zuò fǎ ràng hěn duō rén shī wàng.
    His profit-driven approach disappointed many people.

Origin

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 惟 →

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 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 是 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 圖; 图 is its simplified writing.

  • 囗囗wéiwalled city
  • 啚啚bǐ

The traditional form 圖 pairs 囗, a walled city, with 啚, an early form meaning remote areas or territory. The simplified 图 is a later abbreviation.

Open 图 →

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