不在其位，不谋其政

不在其位，不謀其政

bù zài qí wèi, bù móu qí zhèng

proverb

Meanings

1 don't meddle in matters that are not part of your position
2 if you don't hold the office, don't plan its affairs

Characters

，

Examples

HSK 7-9

不在其位，不谋其政，这事不该由我决定。

Bú zài qí wèi, bù móu qí zhèng, zhè shì bù gāi yóu wǒ juédìng.

I'm not in that role, so I shouldn't be making this decision.

HSK 7-9

他常说不在其位，不谋其政，从不干涉别人的工作。

Tā cháng shuō bú zài qí wèi, bù móu qí zhèng, cóngbù gānshè biéren de gōngzuò.

He often says one shouldn't meddle outside one's role, and never interferes with others' work.

Tips

history

From the Analects (《论语·泰伯》): 子曰：不在其位，不谋其政。 Confucius's principle for keeping institutional roles clean: stay in your lane.

Formal / classical. Can sound slightly self-distancing, like saying 'that's above my pay grade'; sometimes used to politely decline involvement.

Stroke Order

不 bù

在 zài

其 qí

位 wèi

谋 móu

政 zhèng