别有用心

別有用心

biéyǒuyòngxīn

idiom #28,019

Meanings

1 to have ulterior motives
2 to have hidden agenda
3 with an axe to grind

Characters

other; another; separate

purpose; use; intent

heart; mind; intention

Examples

他看似好意帮忙，实则别有用心。

Tā kànsì hǎoyì bāngmáng, shí zé biéyǒuyòngxīn.

He seemed to be helping out of goodwill, but in fact had ulterior motives.

这篇文章别有用心，故意歪曲事实。

Zhè piān wénzhāng biéyǒuyòngxīn, gùyì wāiqū shìshí.

This article was written with a hidden agenda, deliberately distorting the facts.

Tips

usage

别有用心 is accusatory — it implies that someone's outward actions conceal a self-serving or malicious purpose. It is commonly used in political commentary, media criticism, and interpersonal disputes.

Stroke Order

别 bié

有 yǒu

用 yòng

心 xīn