Chinese word

见钱眼开

Pronunciation

Pinyinjiàn qián yǎn kāi

Meaning

  • idiombe blinded by money

Example

为了奖金，他也会见钱眼开。wèi le jiǎng jīn tā yě huì jiàn qián yǎn kāi

To get the bonus, he too would let money blind him.

Illustration for 见钱眼开 (be blinded by money)

More examples

孩子们看到压岁钱时也会开玩笑地说自己会见钱眼开。hái zi men kàn dào yā suì qián shí yě huì kāi wán xiào dì shuō zì jǐ huì jiàn qián yǎn kāi

The children also joke that they would be blinded by money when they see their lucky money.

Core concept

Money suddenly becomes so important that it controls a person's attention and actions.

Common phrases

  • 一谈到钱就见钱眼开yì tán dào qián jiù jiàn qián yǎn kāi

    be blinded by money whenever money is mentioned

  • 拿到钱就见钱眼开ná dào qián jiù jiàn qián yǎn kāi

    be blinded by money upon getting money

Similar words

见利忘义jiàn lì wàng yì: Abandoning loyalty and moral principles for profit, even using improper means to pursue it.
唯利是图wéi lì shì tú: Caring only about profit and ignoring all other concerns.
利令智昏lì lìng zhì hūn: Becoming so focused on profit that sound judgment is lost.
贪得无厌tān dé wú yàn: Having an insatiable desire for more and never feeling content with any gain.

Definition in Chinese

看到钱财时当即表现出强烈的兴趣或贪念，因利益迅速改变态度或采取行动。kàn dào qián cái shí dāng jí biǎo xiàn chū qiáng liè de xìng qù huò tān niàn yīn lì yì xùn sù gǎi biàn tài dù huò cái qǔ xíng dòng

Word origin

见 (jiàn, "see") + 钱 (qián, "money") + 眼 (yǎn, "eye") + 开 (kāi, "open") forms a picture of a person's eyes opening when money appears, linking the image to sudden desire for profit.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, the idiom usually carries mild criticism, so it describes a person's sudden money-driven response rather than a neutral interest in earning or saving.

Other meanings

  • be greedy for moneyidiom

Opposites

  • 淡泊名利dàn bó míng lìcare little about fame and wealthidiom
  • 清心寡欲qīng xīn guǎ yùbe free from worldly desiresidiom

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