不择手段

不擇手段

bùzé-shǒuduàn

idiom #8,650

Meanings

1 by any means necessary; by hook or by crook
2 to stop at nothing; unscrupulous

Characters

to choose; to select

means; method; section

Not choosing methods - willing to use any means whatsoever, no matter how underhanded.

Examples

HSK 4

为了赢得比赛，他不择手段。

Wèile yíngdé bǐsài, tā bùzé-shǒuduàn.

He would stop at nothing to win the competition.

HSK 6

那个商人不择手段地赚钱。

Nàge shāngrén bùzé-shǒuduàn de zhuànqián.

That businessman made money by any means necessary.

HSK 7-9

他为了升职不择手段。

Tā wèile shēngzhí bùzé-shǒuduàn.

He would stop at nothing to get promoted.

Tips

register

不择手段 is almost always negative - it implies someone is morally unscrupulous. Unlike English 'by any means necessary,' which can sound heroic, 不择手段 carries strong disapproval.

Stroke Order

不 bù

择 zé

手 shǒu

段 duàn