狼狈为奸 (láng bèi wéi jiān) — to act in collusion; to conspire together (for evil purposes)

Definition

An idiom meaning two parties secretly work together to do harm — 'act in collusion for evil'. Stronger than 共谋: it stresses the partnership of villains, not just any conspiracy.

idiom
to act in collusionto conspire together (for evil purposes)

Examples

  • 狼狈为奸，。
    Zhè liǎng gè gōng sī láng bèi wéi jiān, yì qǐ cāo zòng shì chǎng jià gé.
    These two companies colluded to manipulate the market price.
  • 狼狈为奸，。
    Lì shǐ shàng yǒu xǔ duō jiān chén láng bèi wéi jiān, hài guó hài mín.
    In history, many treacherous officials colluded to harm the country and the people.
  • 狼狈为奸，。
    Tā men láng bèi wéi jiān, tōng guò fēi fǎ shǒu duàn huò qǔ lì yì.
    They acted in collusion, obtaining benefits through illegal means.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

狼狈wolf and legendary beast
狼lángwolf狈bèilegendary beast
联合Side by side
为奸do evil
为wèido奸jiānevil
动宾Verb + object

狼 and 狈, with 为奸 meaning to do evil, picture beasts conspiring.

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
犭Written in full as犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
良
良liáng狼láng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 犭 (full form 犬) shows a dog-like animal. The right part 良 gives the sound.

Open 狼 →

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 狽; 狈 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犬犬quǎndog
Sound part声符shēngfú
貝
貝bèi狽
Same sound today

The traditional form 狽 pairs 犬 (dog) with 貝 as a sound part; the simplified 狈 is a later shorthand.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.

Open 为 →

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
女女nǚ
Sound part声符shēngfú
干
干gān奸jiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

奸 is written with 女 (woman) on the left and 干 on the right; the evidence says 干 gives the sound and 女 marks the meaning.

Open 奸 →

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