假公济私

假公濟私

jiǎgōng-jìsī

idiom #52,238

Meanings

1 to use public office for private gain
2 to exploit public resources for personal benefit

Characters

to borrow, use as cover

to benefit, help

private, personal

Examples

他利用职务之便假公济私，已经被免职调查。

Tā lìyòng zhíwù zhī biàn jiǎgōng-jìsī, yǐjīng bèi miǎnzhí diàochá.

He abused his position for private gain and has been removed from office pending investigation.

领导干部绝不能假公济私，损害国家利益。

Lǐngdǎo gànbù jué bùnéng jiǎgōng-jìsī, sǔnhài guójiā lìyì.

Leading officials must never exploit public office for private benefit and harm the national interest.

Tips

history

Appears in 《汉书·杜业传》 as 托公报私 and in Yuan drama as 假公济私. The pattern 假X济Y (use X as cover to benefit Y) is a classical construction; here it exposes a specific form of corruption.

Stroke Order

假 jiǎ

公 gōng

济 jì

私 sī