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蝇头小利 (yíng tóu xiǎo lì) — a pittance; a trifling profit; a very small (often contemptible) gain

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'a tiny, contemptible profit' — literally 'fly-head-sized gain.' It carries a moralizing tone, warning against chasing small gains at the cost of larger interests or principles.

idiom
a pittancea trifling profita very small (often contemptible) gain

Examples

  • 蝇头小利，。
    Tā wèi le zhè diǎn yíng tóu xiǎo lì, bù xī sǔn hài gōng sī de cháng yuǎn lì yì.
    He didn't hesitate to harm the company's long-term interests for this petty gain.
  • 蝇头小利，。
    Shāng rén zhī kàn zhòng yíng tóu xiǎo lì, hěn nán bǎ shēng yì zuò dà.
    If a businessman only cares about small profits, it's hard to grow the business.
  • 蝇头小利。
    Bié wèi le yì diǎn yíng tóu xiǎo lì jiù fàng qì yuán zé.
    Don't abandon your principles for a trifling profit.

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