尸位素餐 to occupy a post and do nothing; to be a parasite
Explanation
指占据职位而不尽职，白白领取俸禄。比喻不做事，只占着位置。
Refers to someone who occupies a position but does not perform their duties, receiving a salary without working. A metaphor for someone who does nothing but occupies a position.
Origin Story
汉成帝时期，丞相张禹年老体弱，却依然占据着高位，不理朝政，引起朝臣不满。正直的御史大夫朱云向汉成帝直言进谏，痛斥张禹尸位素餐，应该罢免。汉成帝虽然表面上答应，但并没有真正处罚张禹。朱云的举动体现了忠君爱民的责任感，也揭示了当时官场存在的腐败现象。张禹的故事后来成为警示后世官员的典型案例，告诫他们要认真对待自己的职位，为国家和百姓贡献力量。汉成帝时期，朝廷中尸位素餐的官员很多，他们不思进取，只顾享受荣华富贵，对百姓的疾苦视而不见。这使得国家积贫积弱，民不聊生。汉成帝虽然也认识到这个问题的严重性，但他缺乏魄力，未能有效整治官场腐败，最终导致了西汉王朝的衰落。
During the reign of Emperor Han Chengdi, the Prime Minister Zhang Yu was old and weak, yet he still held a high position and neglected the affairs of state, causing dissatisfaction among court officials. The upright imperial censor Zhu Yun spoke directly to Emperor Han Chengdi, sharply criticizing Zhang Yu for holding office without performing his duties and demanding his dismissal. While Emperor Han Chengdi superficially agreed, he did not actually punish Zhang Yu. Zhu Yun's actions reflected his sense of responsibility towards the emperor and the people and exposed the corruption that existed in the bureaucracy at that time. Zhang Yu's story later became a typical example to warn future officials, urging them to take their positions seriously and work for the country and the people.
Usage
作谓语、定语、宾语；形容人只占着职位，不做事，白吃饭。
Used as predicate, attributive, and object; describes someone who only occupies a position but does not do any work and receives a salary without working.
Examples
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他只是个尸位素餐的官僚，对百姓疾苦漠不关心。
tā zhǐshì gè shī wèi sù cān de guānliáo, duì bǎixìng jíkǔ mò bù guānxīn
He's just a bureaucrat who enjoys the perks of office without doing any work, unconcerned with the suffering of the people.
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这个部门充斥着尸位素餐的人，效率极低。
zhège bùmén chōngchìzhe shī wèi sù cān de rén, xiàolǜ jí dī
This department is full of people who just occupy their posts and do nothing, so the efficiency is extremely low.
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他空有虚名，尸位素餐，毫无作为。
tā kōng yǒu xū míng, shī wèi sù cān, háo wú zuòwéi
He has an empty name, occupies a position without doing anything, and does nothing at all.