投机取巧 tóu jī qǔ qiǎo take shortcuts

Explanation

投机取巧是指用不正当的手段谋取私利。也指靠小聪明占便宜。

The idiom “投机取巧” (tóu jī qǔ qiǎo) refers to using improper means to seek personal gain. It also refers to using cleverness to take advantage of others.

Origin Story

在古代的某个朝代，有一位名叫李明的年轻书生，他出身贫寒，却胸怀大志，渴望功名利禄。一次，他参加了科举考试，却因才华平庸，成绩不佳。眼看其他考生纷纷考中，李明焦急万分，开始动起了歪脑筋。他听说主考官喜欢收藏古董，便四处搜集一些假古董，想通过贿赂主考官来换取高分。然而，他低估了主考官的正直，最终被揭穿，不仅没有得到功名，还被赶出了考场。李明后来才明白，投机取巧是行不通的，只有脚踏实地，勤奋努力，才能获得真正的成功。

zài gǔ dài de mǒu gè cháo dài, yǒu yī wèi míng jiào lǐ míng de nián qīng shū shēng, tā chū shēn pín hán, què xiōng huái dà zhì, kě wàng gōng míng lì lù. yī cì, tā cān jiā le kē jǔ kǎo shì, què yīn cái huá píng yōng, chéng jì bù jiā. yǎn kàn qí tā kǎo shēng fēn fēn kǎo zhòng, lǐ míng jiāo jí wàn fèn, kāi shǐ dòng qǐ le wāi nǎo jīn. tā tīng shuō zhǔ kǎo guān xǐ huan shōu cáng gǔ dǒng, biàn sì chù sōu jí yī xiē jiǎ gǔ dǒng, xiǎng tōng huì lù zhǔ kǎo guān lái huàn qǔ gāo fèn. rán ér, tā dī gū le zhǔ kǎo guān de zhèng zhí, zuì zhōng bèi jiē chuān, bù jǐn méi yǒu dé dào gōng míng, hái bèi gǎn chū le kǎo chǎng. lǐ míng hòu lái cái míng bai, tóu jī qǔ qiǎo shì xíng bù tōng de, zhǐ yǒu jiǎo tà shí dì, qín fèn nǔ lì, cái néng huò dé zhēn zhèng de chéng gōng.

In ancient China, there was a young scholar named Li Ming who came from a poor family but had great ambitions. He aspired for fame and fortune. He took the imperial examinations, but due to his mediocre talent, he did not perform well. Watching other candidates pass the exams, Li Ming became anxious and began to think of dishonest ways to succeed. He heard that the chief examiner liked to collect antiques, so he gathered some fake antiques and tried to bribe the examiner in exchange for a high score. However, he underestimated the examiner's integrity and was eventually exposed. Not only did he fail to achieve his ambition, but he was also expelled from the examination hall. Li Ming later realized that shortcuts would not work, and only hard work and diligence would lead to true success.

Usage

这个成语用来批评那些不通过正当手段，想依靠小聪明或不正当途径取得利益的人。

zhè gè chéng yǔ yòng lái pī píng nà xiē bù tōng guò zhèng dāng shǒu duàn, xiǎng yī kào xiǎo cōng míng huò bù zhèng dāng tōng dào qǔ dé lì yì de rén.

This idiom is used to criticize those who do not use proper methods to gain benefits, but rely on cleverness or unfair means.

Examples

• 他为了升职，总是投机取巧，不择手段。

  tā wèile shēng zhí, zǒng shì tóu jī qǔ qiǎo, bù zé shǒu duàn.

  He always tried to get ahead by cheating and using unfair means to get promoted.

• 做人要脚踏实地，不要投机取巧。

  zuò rén yào jiǎo tà shí dì, bù yào tóu jī qǔ qiǎo

  You should be down-to-earth and not try to get ahead by taking shortcuts.

Related Idioms

• 投机倒把

• 巧取豪夺

Opposite Idioms

• 踏实

• 勤劳