捞一把 (lāo yī bǎ) — (verb-object) to make a quick profit; to seize an opportunity to gain benefits (often by opportunistic or dubious means)

Definition

A colloquial verb-object phrase meaning to grab a quick profit by taking advantage of a situation, often in a selfish or unethical way. Carries a negative, opportunistic tone — more vivid and informal than just saying 赚钱.

verb
(verb-object) to make a quick profitto seize an opportunity to gain benefits (often by opportunistic or dubious means)

Examples

  • 捞一把，。
    Tā zǒng xiǎng zài gōng sī lǐ lāo yī bǎ, cóng bù kǎo lǜ bié rén de gǎn shòu.
    He always wants to make a quick profit in the company, never considering others' feelings.
  • ，。
    Zhè cì tā lāo le yí dà bǎ, zhuàn le bù shǎo qián.
    This time he grabbed a big profit and made a lot of money.
  • ，。
    Tā chèn jī lāo le yì bǎ, rán hòu jiù táo zǒu le.
    He took the opportunity to reap a profit and then ran away.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 撈; 捞 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
勞
勞láo撈lāo
Same sound today

The traditional form 撈 has 扌, a hand, and 勞 for sound; the simplified 捞 is a later shorthand.

Open 捞 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
巴
巴bā把bǎ
Same sound today

把 combines 扌, a hand, with 巴 for its sound.

Open 把 →

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