p8nda
p8nda BETA
Home Dictionary Discord

中饱私囊

中飽私囊
zhōngbǎosīnáng
idiom #33,897

Meanings

  1. 1 to line one's own pockets
  2. 2 to embezzle funds passing through one's hands
  3. 3 to pocket money meant for others

Examples

他利用职权中饱私囊，最终被起诉。
Tā lìyòng zhíquán zhōng bǎo sī náng, zuìzhōng bèi qǐsù.
He abused his position to line his own pockets, and was eventually prosecuted.
救灾款不能让人中饱私囊。
Jiùzāikuǎn bù néng ràng rén zhōng bǎo sī náng.
Disaster-relief funds must not end up in anyone's pockets.
这家公司的管理层中饱私囊，账目混乱。
Zhè jiā gōngsī de guǎnlǐcéng zhōng bǎo sī náng, zhàngmù hùnluàn.
The company's management embezzled funds, and the books are a mess.

Tips

history
From 《韩非子·外储说右下》: Bo Yi tells Zhao Jianzi his state is '中饱' — the treasury is empty, the people starve, but the corrupt clerks in the middle are well-fed. 中饱 originally meant 'the middle is full (at the expense of both ends)'. 私囊 ('private purse') was added later for clarity.
register
Formal, written register — common in news about corruption, embezzlement, and fraud cases. Rarely used in casual speech.

Stroke Order

中 zhōng
饱 bǎo
私 sī
囊 náng