争名夺利 zhēng míng duó lì Scramble for fame and fortune

Explanation

指为争夺名利而互相竞争。带有贬义，形容人贪图名利，不择手段。

Refers to the competition for fame and fortune. It carries a negative connotation, describing people who crave fame and fortune and stop at nothing to get it.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，有两个年轻有为的官员，张三和李四，他们都才华横溢，在朝中颇有声望。然而，随着时间的推移，他们之间的矛盾也日益加剧。起初，他们只是为了在工作中获得更好的职位而暗中较劲，但渐渐地，这种竞争演变成了公开的争名夺利。他们互相陷害，散布谣言，只为了打压对方，巩固自己的地位。最终，张三凭借着自己强大的后台和不择手段的策略，扳倒了李四，独揽朝政。然而，他并没有因此而感到满足，反而更加疯狂地追逐权力和财富，最终落得个众叛亲离的下场。而李四虽暂时失势，却在民间广受赞誉，他的清廉正直成为了后世传颂的美谈。这个故事告诉我们，争名夺利虽然能在短时间内获得好处，但最终只会害人害己，只有心怀正义，才能获得真正的成功和快乐。

huà shuō táng cháo shí qī, yǒu liǎng gè nián qīng yǒu wéi de guān yuán, zhāng sān hé lǐ sì, tāmen dōu cái huá héng yì, zài cháo zhōng pō yǒu shēngwàng. rán'ér, suí zhe shíjiān de tuīyí, tāmen zhī jiān de máodùn yě rì yì jiā jù. qǐ chū, tāmen zhǐshì wèile zài gōngzuò zhōng huòdé gèng hǎo de zhíwèi ér àn zhōng jiào jìn, dàn jiànjiàn de, zhè zhǒng jìngzhēng yǎnbiàn chéng le gōng kāi de zhēng míng duó lì. tāmen hù xiāng xiàn hài, sàn bù yáoyuán, zhǐ wèile dǎ yā duìfāng, gùnggù zìjǐ de dìwèi. zuìzhōng, zhāng sān píng jiè zhe zìjǐ qiángdà de hòutái hé bù zé shǒuduàn de cèlüè, bǎndǎo le lǐ sì, dú lǎn cháo zhèng. rán'ér, tā bìng méiyǒu yīncǐ ér gǎndào mǎnzú, fǎn'ér gèngjiā kuángkuáng de zhuīzhú quánlì hé cáifù, zuìzhōng luò de gè zhòng pàn qīn lí de xiàchǎng. ér lǐ sì suī zànshí shīshì, què zài mínjiān guǎng shòu zànyù, tā de qīnglián zhèngzhí chéng le hòushì chuánsòng de měitán. zhège gùshì gàosù wǒmen, zhēng míng duó lì suīrán néng zài duǎn shíjiān nèi huòdé hǎochù, dàn zuìzhōng zhǐ huì hài rén hài jǐ, zhǐyǒu xīn huái zhèngyì, cái néng huòdé zhēnzhèng de chénggōng hé kuàilè

In ancient China, there were two talented officials, Zhang San and Li Si, who were highly respected in the court. However, over time, their conflict intensified. Initially, they secretly competed for better positions, but gradually, this turned into an open struggle for fame and fortune. They framed each other, spread rumors, and tried to undermine each other to consolidate their positions. Eventually, Zhang San, with his powerful background and unscrupulous tactics, defeated Li Si and took sole control of the court. However, he was not satisfied, and instead pursued power and wealth even more frantically, ultimately ending up abandoned by everyone. Though Li Si lost power for a time, he was widely admired among the people, and his integrity became a celebrated legend. This story tells us that while the pursuit of fame and fortune might bring short-term benefits, it ultimately harms both the individual and society. Only those with integrity can achieve true success and happiness.

Usage

常用来形容那些不择手段追求名利的人。

cháng yòng lái xíngróng nàxiē bùzé shǒuduàn zhuīqiú mínglì de rén

Often used to describe those who will stop at nothing to pursue fame and fortune.

Examples

• 为了名利，他们不择手段，争名夺利，最终却得不偿失。

  wèile mínglì, tāmen bùzé shǒuduàn, zhēng míng duó lì, zuìzhōng què dé bù chángshī

  In their pursuit of fame and fortune, they resorted to unscrupulous means, scrambling for name and gain, only to end up losing everything.

• 职场竞争激烈，许多人为了争名夺利，忽略了团队合作的重要性。

  zhí chǎng jìngzhēng jīliè, xǔduō rén wèile zhēng míng duó lì, huòlüè le tuánduì hézuò de zhòngyào xìng

  Competition in the workplace is fierce, and many people, in their scramble for fame and fortune, neglect the importance of teamwork.

Related Idioms

• 争权夺利

• 尔虞我诈

Opposite Idioms

• 淡泊名利

• 安贫乐道