私心杂念 sī xīn zá niàn selfish thoughts

Explanation

指为个人利益打算的种种想法，带有贬义。多指那些妨碍事业进步的私欲和不正当的想法。

Refers to various thoughts for personal interests, with a derogatory meaning. It often refers to selfish desires and improper thoughts that hinder career advancement.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，有个名叫李白的年轻书生，一心想考取功名，光宗耀祖。他每日勤奋苦读，却常被私心杂念所扰。有时，他会想，如果我能得到高官厚禄，就能娶到貌美的妻子，过上荣华富贵的生活；有时，他又会担心，如果考试落榜，家族颜面何存？这些杂念让他心烦意乱，难以静下心来学习。一次，他偶然遇到一位老禅师，将自己的苦恼倾诉给禅师。老禅师听后，微微一笑，说道："放下私心杂念，才能获得真正的平静和智慧。"李白听了禅师的话，深受启发，他开始尝试摒弃杂念，专心致志地学习。他把学习的目标定为为国为民，而不是为了个人荣华富贵。他逐渐明白了，只有为国家和人民做贡献，才能获得真正的快乐和满足。从此以后，李白潜心读书，最终考取功名，成为了一代诗仙。

huàshuō tángcháo shíqí, yǒu gè míng jiào lǐ bái de nián qīng shūshēng, yīxīn xiǎng kǎo qǔ gōngmíng, guāngzōng yàozǔ. tā měirì qínfèn kǔ dú, què cháng bèi sīxīn zánniàn suǒ rǎo. yǒushí, tā huì xiǎng, rúguǒ wǒ néng dédào gāoguān hòulù, jiù néng qǔ dào màoměi de qīzi, guò shang rónghuá fùguì de shēnghuó; yǒushí, tā yòu huì dānxīn, rúguǒ kǎoshì luòbǎng, jiazú yánmiàn hé cún? zhèxiē zánniàn ràng tā xīnfán yìluàn, nán yǐ jìngxià xīnlái xuéxí. yīcì, tā ǒurán yù dào yī wèi lǎo chán shī, jiāng zìjǐ de kǔnǎo qīngsù gěi chán shī. lǎo chán shī tīng hòu, wēi wēi yīxiào, shuōdào: "fàngxià sīxīn zánniàn, cáinéng huòdé zhēnzhèng de píngjìng hé zhìhuì." lǐ bái tīng le chán shī de huà, shēnshòu qǐfā, tā kāishǐ chángshì bǐngqì zánniàn, zhuānxīnzhìzhì de xuéxí. tā bǎ xuéxí de mùbiāo dìng wéi wèi guó wèimín, ér bùshì wèile gèrén rónghuá fùguì. tā zhújiàn míngbái le, zhǐyǒu wèi guójiā hé rénmín zuò gòngxiàn, cáinéng huòdé zhēnzhèng de kuàilè hé mǎnzú. cóngcǐ yǐhòu, lǐ bái qiánxīn dúshū, zuìzhōng kǎo qǔ gōngmíng, chéngwéi le yīdài shīxiān.

It is said that during the Tang Dynasty, there was a young scholar named Li Bai who wanted to pass the imperial examination and bring honor to his family. He studied diligently every day, but was often disturbed by selfish thoughts. Sometimes, he would think that if he could get a high-ranking official position and wealth, he could marry a beautiful wife and live a luxurious life; sometimes, he would worry that his family would lose face if he failed the examination. These thoughts made him restless and unable to concentrate on his studies. Once, he happened to meet an old Zen master and confided his worries to him. The old Zen master smiled slightly and said: "Let go of your selfish thoughts, and you will gain true peace and wisdom." Li Bai was deeply inspired by the master's words, and he began to try to abandon his selfish thoughts and concentrate on his studies. He set his goal to serve the country and the people, rather than seeking personal wealth and glory. He gradually understood that only by contributing to the country and the people could he gain true happiness and satisfaction. From then on, Li Bai studied hard, eventually passed the imperial examination, and became a renowned poet.

Usage

常用来形容一个人心中有许多为个人利益打算的想法，这些想法会影响到他的判断和行为。

cháng yòng lái xíngróng yīgè rén xīnzhōng yǒu xǔduō wèi gèrén lìyì dǎsuàn de xiǎngfǎ, zhèxiē xiǎngfǎ huì yǐngxiǎng dào tā de pànduàn hé xíngwéi

Often used to describe a person who has many thoughts serving their own interests, these thoughts will affect their judgment and behavior.

Examples

• 他一心只想升官发财，满脑子都是私心杂念。

  tā yīxīn zhǐ xiǎng shēngguān fācái, mǎn nǎozi dōu shì sīxīn zánniàn.

  He only cares about promotion and wealth, his mind is full of selfish thoughts.

• 为了团队利益，我们要放下私心杂念，共同努力。

  wèile tuánduì lìyì, wǒmen yào fàngxià sīxīn zánniàn, gòngtóng nǔlì

  For the good of the team, we must put aside our selfish desires and work together.

Related Idioms

• 私心妄念

• 利欲熏心

Opposite Idioms

• 大公无私

• 公而忘私