监守自盗 (jiān) — to embezzle; to steal what one is entrusted to guard
Definition
A chengyu meaning to steal the very thing one is supposed to be guarding — i.e., a trusted insider who embezzles or pilfers. Always implies betrayal of a position of trust, unlike a plain 偷 or 盗.
idiom
to embezzleto steal what one is entrusted to guard
Examples
- 监守自盗，。Nà ge cái wù jīng lǐ jìng rán jiān, juàn zǒu le gōng sī yí dà bǐ qián.That financial manager actually embezzled — he made off with a huge sum of company money.
- 监守自盗。Bǎo ān jiān de xíng wéi bèi shè xiàng tóu pāi le xià lái.The security guard's act of stealing what he was guarding was caught on camera.
- 监守自盗，。Zhè ge àn zi jiù shì diǎn xíng de jiān, fù zé rén lì yòng zhí wù biàn lì tōu zǒu le kù cún shāng pǐn.This case is a classic example of embezzlement — the person in charge used his position to steal the inventory.
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