中饱私囊 zhōng bǎo sī náng enrich oneself secretly

Explanation

指暗中侵吞公款或财物，中饱私囊，使自己得利。

Refers to secretly embezzling public funds or property for personal gain.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，有个叫李实的官员，奉命去检查各地仓库的粮食储备。他一路走来，看到许多地方的粮食都堆积如山，而百姓却衣衫褴褛，饥寒交迫。他心中甚是不忍，便暗中挪用了一些粮食，救济那些贫苦的百姓。可是，由于他并没有留下任何记录，也没有向朝廷上报，便被人误解为中饱私囊，贪污腐败。李实知道后，并没有辩解，只是默默地继续着自己的善举。后来，朝廷知道了他的行为，不仅没有责罚他，反而重重地褒奖了他，并称赞他为清官。

huà shuō táng cháo shí qī, yǒu gè jiào lǐ shí de guān yuán, fèng mìng qù jiǎn chá gè dì cāng kù de liáng shí chǔ bèi. tā yī lù zǒu lái, kàn dào xǔ duō dì fāng de liáng shí dōu duī jī rú shān, ér bǎixìng què yī shān lán lǚ, jī hán jiāo pò. tā xīn zhōng shèn shì bù rěn, biàn àn zhōng nuó yòng le yī xiē liáng shí, jiù jì nà xiē pín kǔ de bǎixìng. kěshì, yóu yú tā bìng méiyǒu liú xià rènhé jìlù, yě méiyǒu xiàng cháoting shàng bào, biàn bèi rén wù jiě wèi zhōng bǎo sī náng, tān wū fǔ bài. lǐ shí zhīdào hòu, bìng méiyǒu biàn jiě, zhǐshì mòmò de jìxù zhe zìjǐ de shàn jǔ. hòulái, cháoting zhīdào le tā de xíngwéi, bìng bù jǐn méiyǒu zé fá tā, fǎn'ér chóng chóng de bāo jiǎng le tā, bìng chēng zàn tā wèi qīng guān.

In the Tang Dynasty, there was an official named Li Shi who was tasked with inspecting grain reserves in various warehouses. Along the way, he saw that grain was piled high in many places, while the people were clothed in rags and suffered from hunger and cold. He was deeply moved and secretly diverted some grain to aid the poor. However, because he left no records and did not report to the court, he was wrongly accused of embezzlement and corruption. Li Shi did not defend himself, but silently continued his good deeds. Later, the court learned of his actions and not only rewarded him but also praised him as an upright official.

Usage

常用作谓语、宾语、定语；指贪污受贿。

cháng yòng zuò wèi yǔ, bīn yǔ, dìng yǔ; zhǐ tān wū shòu huì

Often used as a predicate, object, and attributive; refers to embezzlement and bribery.

Examples

• 他私吞公款，中饱私囊，最终受到了法律的制裁。

  tā sī tūn gōng kuǎn, zhōng bǎo sī náng, zuì zhōng shòudào le fǎlǜ de zhìcái.

  He embezzled public funds, enriching himself, and ultimately faced legal sanctions.

• 这个贪官，中饱私囊，民怨沸腾。

  zhège tān guān, zhōng bǎo sī náng, mín yuàn fèi téng

  This corrupt official enriched himself at the expense of the people, causing widespread resentment.

Related Idioms

• 贪污

• 受贿

• 盗窃

Opposite Idioms

• 大公无私

• 廉洁奉公