游手好闲 yóu shǒu hào xián idle

Explanation

形容人游荡懒散，不参加劳动，不务正业。

To describe someone who is idle and doesn't work.

Origin Story

从前，有个年轻人叫阿强，他自幼家境贫寒，父母靠种地为生。阿强却厌恶劳动，整日游手好闲，沉迷于赌博和酒色之中。他挥霍了父母辛辛苦苦攒下的钱，还欠下了一屁股债。父母多次劝说他改过自新，但阿强置之不理，继续过着浑浑噩噩的生活。村里的人都对他嗤之以鼻，认为他是一个不肖子孙。有一天，阿强偶然间听说邻村有个富翁招女婿，要求勤劳肯干。阿强动了心思，便跑去应聘。富翁看他衣着光鲜，以为他是个勤劳的人，便将他招为女婿。然而，婚后阿强依旧游手好闲，不务家业，整天无所事事。富翁看透了他的为人，便将他赶出了家门。阿强一无所有，后悔莫及，最终沦为乞丐，过着凄惨的生活。这个故事告诉我们，游手好闲，不思进取，最终只会自食其果。

congqian, you ge niánqīngrén jiào ā qiáng, tā zì yòu jiā jìng pín hán, fùmǔ kào zhòng dì wéi shēng. ā qiáng què yànwù láodòng, zhěng rì yóu shǒu hào xián, chénmí yú dǔbó hé jiǔsè zhī zhōng. tā huīhuò le fùmǔ xīn xīn kǔ kǔ zǎn xià de qián, hái qiàn xià le yì pǐ gu dǎi. fùmǔ duō cì quānshuō tā gǎiguò zì xīn, dàn ā qiáng zhì zhī bù lǐ, jìxù guò zhe hún hún è è de shēnghuó. cūn lǐ de rén dōu duì tā chī zhī yǐ bí, rènwéi tā shì yīgè bù xiāo zǐsūn. yǒu yī tiān, ā qiáng ǒurán jiān tīngshuō lín cūn yǒu gè fùwēng zhāo nǚ xù, yāoqiú qínláo kěn gàn. ā qiáng dòng le xīnsi, biàn pǎo qù yìngpìn. fùwēng kàn tā yīzhuō guāngxiān, yǐwéi tā shì gè qínláo de rén, biàn jiāng tā zhāo wéi nǚ xù. rán'ér, hūnhòu ā qiáng yījiù yóu shǒu hào xián, bù wù jiāyè, zhěng tiān wú suǒ shì shì. fùwēng kàn tòu le tā de wéirén, biàn jiāng tā gǎn chū le jiā mén. ā qiáng yī wú suǒ yǒu, hòu huǐ mò jí, zuìzhōng lún wéi qǐgài, guò zhe qī cǎn de shēnghuó. zhège gùshì gàosù wǒmen, yóu shǒu hào xián, bù sī jìn qǔ, zuìzhōng zhǐ huì zì shí qí guǒ.

Once upon a time, there was a young man named Aqiang who grew up in poverty. His parents made their living by farming. However, Aqiang hated work and spent his days in idleness, gambling, and debauchery. He squandered the money his parents had painstakingly saved and accumulated debts. His parents repeatedly tried to persuade him to change his ways, but Aqiang ignored them and continued to live a carefree life. The villagers despised him and considered him an unworthy son. One day, Aqiang accidentally heard that a wealthy man from the neighboring village was looking for a hardworking and diligent son-in-law. Aqiang became interested and applied for the position. The wealthy man saw him in his fine clothes and thought he was a hard worker, so he took him in as his son-in-law. However, after the wedding, Aqiang remained idle and neglected his household duties. The wealthy man saw through his true character and threw him out of the house. Aqiang was left with nothing and deeply regretted his actions. Eventually, he became a beggar and led a miserable life. This story teaches us that idleness and lack of ambition ultimately lead to self-destruction.

Usage

用作谓语、定语；指不务正业，游手好闲。

yòng zuò wèiyǔ, dìngyǔ; zhǐ bù wù zhèngyè, yóu shǒu hào xián

Used as a predicate or attributive; refers to someone who does nothing and doesn't care about work.

Examples

• 他整天游手好闲，不务正业。

  ta zhengtian youshouhaoxian, buwuzhengye.

  He is idle and does not work hard.

• 不要游手好闲，要努力工作。

  buya youshouhaoxian, yao nuli gongzuo

  Don't be idle, work hard!

Related Idioms

• 好吃懒做

• 好逸恶劳

• 无所事事

Opposite Idioms

• 勤劳

• 努力

• 兢兢业业