Chinese word

不劳而获

Pronunciation

Pinyinbù láo ér huò

Meaning

  • idiomget something for nothing

Example

想不劳而获的人往往失败。xiǎng bù láo ér huò de rén wáng wǎng shī bài

People who expect to get something for nothing often fail.

Illustration for 不劳而获 (get something for nothing)

More examples

父母应该教育孩子不要不劳而获。fù mǔ yīng gāi jiào yù hái zi bú yào bù láo ér huò

Parents should teach their children not to try to get something for nothing.

Core concept

An undeserved reward arrives while the effort normally behind it is missing.

Common phrases

  • 反对不劳而获fǎn duì bù láo ér huò

    be against getting something for nothing

  • 不劳而获的观念bù láo ér huò de guān niàn

    the notion of getting something for nothing

Similar words

坐享其成zuò xiǎng qí chéng: Take the benefits created by other people while doing nothing to earn them.
不费吹灰之力bú fèi chuī huī zhī lì: Complete a task with very little effort because it is exceptionally easy.

Definition in Chinese

指不经过劳动或努力就取得收获或利益，常含贬义，暗指通过不正当或侥幸手段获得成果。zhǐ bù jīng guò láo dòng huò nǔ lì jiù qǔ dé shōu huò huò lì yì cháng hán biǎn yì àn zhǐ tōng guò bú zhèng dāng huò jiǎo xìng shǒu duàn huò dé chéng guǒ

Word origin

不 (bù, "not") + 劳 (láo, "work") + 而 (ér, "yet") + 获 (huò, "gain") presents a result as arriving despite the absence of the usual effort.

Usage tips

  • This idiom often judges the recipient's attitude or method, which makes it sharper than a neutral statement about receiving a benefit or paying nothing.

Opposites

Word lists with this word