以私害公 harm public interests for personal gain
Explanation
指因私情而损害公道或公德。为了个人利益或私情而损害集体利益或公正原则的行为。
To harm public interests for personal reasons or feelings. Refers to actions that damage collective interests or principles of justice for personal gain or private feelings.
Origin Story
战国时期，楚国有个名叫庄之善的人，以其母年老而体弱多病为由，向国君请辞，婉拒了前往战场杀敌的命令。但庄之善在危难关头听到国君需要忠臣义士舍身相救的消息后，毅然决然地收拾行囊，前往朝堂。途中，庄之善内心忐忑不安，他深知自己年迈的母亲需要他照顾，而前去舍身救国君的危险也让他犹豫不决。然而，庄之善始终铭记着“君子不以私害公”的道理，他明白个人安危与国家安危相比，微不足道。最终，庄之善克服了内心的恐惧与不舍，毅然前往朝堂，以实际行动诠释了“公”字的含义。
During the Warring States period in ancient China, there was a man named Zhuang Zhishan. He pleaded with the king to excuse him from the order to go to the battlefield to fight the enemy, using his old and sick mother as an excuse. However, after Zhuang Zhishan heard that the king needed loyal and righteous men to sacrifice themselves to save him in the critical juncture, he resolutely packed up and went to the court. On the way, Zhuang Zhishan felt uneasy. He knew that his old mother needed him, and the danger of going to sacrifice his life to save the king also made him hesitate. However, Zhuang Zhishan always remembered the principle of "a gentleman does not harm public interests for personal interests". He understood that personal safety was insignificant compared to national safety. In the end, Zhuang Zhishan overcame his fear and reluctance and resolutely went to the court, interpreting the meaning of "public" with practical actions.
Usage
用于批评那些为了个人私利而损害公共利益的行为。
Used to criticize those who harm public interests for personal gain.
Examples
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他为了个人利益，竟然以私害公，真是令人气愤！
tayizhe weige renliyi jingyisihaigong zhenshi lingren qifen
It's infuriating that he acted against public interests for his personal gain!
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这件事他处理得很不公正，明显是以私害公。
zhejianshi ta chuli de henbugongzheng mingxian shi yisihaigong
He handled this matter very unfairly, obviously for his own benefit and to the detriment of the public good.