坐享其成

zuòxiǎng-qíchéng

idiom #29,898

Meanings

1 to reap where one has not sown
2 to sit back and enjoy the fruits of others' labor
3 to benefit without effort

Characters

to sit; to stay seated

to enjoy; to benefit from

its; their; that

achievement; success; to accomplish

Examples

HSK 5

他总是坐享其成，从不参与实际工作。

Tā zǒngshì zuòxiǎng-qíchéng, cóngbù cānyù shíjì gōngzuò.

He always reaps what others have sown and never participates in the actual work.

HSK 5

我们不能坐享其成，要靠自己努力。

Wǒmen bùnéng zuòxiǎng-qíchéng, yào kào zìjǐ nǔlì.

We cannot just sit back and enjoy what others achieved - we must work hard ourselves.

Tips

memory

坐 (to sit) + 享 (to enjoy) + 其 (their/its) + 成 (achievements). Imagine someone sitting comfortably in a chair enjoying the rewards that others worked hard to achieve.

Stroke Order

坐 zuò

享 xiǎng

其 qí

成 chéng