急功近利

jígōng-jìnlì

idiom HSK 7-9 #31,570

Meanings

1 eager for quick success and short-term gain
2 shortsighted; chasing immediate profit

Characters

urgent; impatient

achievement; merit

near; immediate

benefit; profit

Examples

HSK 4

教育孩子不能急功近利。

Jiàoyù háizi bùnéng jígōng-jìnlì.

You can't raise children with a short-term mindset.

HSK 7-9

做学问最忌急功近利。

Zuò xuéwen zuì jì jígōng-jìnlì.

In scholarship, the worst thing is chasing quick results.

HSK 7-9

他太急功近利，结果把项目做砸了。

Tā tài jígōng-jìnlì, jiéguǒ bǎ xiàngmù zuò zá le.

He was too eager for quick wins, and ended up botching the project.

Tips

usage

Always negative - a criticism of impatience that sacrifices long-term quality for immediate payoff. Common in discussions of education, business, and policy.

history

Traced to the Han scholar 董仲舒 in 《春秋繁露》: a virtuous person 正其道不谋其利 - pursues the Way without plotting for gain. 急功近利 describes the opposite character.

Stroke Order

急 jí

功 gōng

近 jìn

利 lì