沆瀣一气

沆瀣一氣

hàngxièyīqì

idiom #39,581

Meanings

1 to act in collusion
2 to be hand in glove with
3 (of bad people) to be cut from the same cloth

Characters

evening mist; (here a personal name)

night dew; (here a personal name)

Examples

这两个官员沆瀣一气，贪污了大量公款。

Zhè liǎng gè guānyuán hàngxièyīqì, tānwū le dàliàng gōngkuǎn.

These two officials worked hand in glove and embezzled huge sums of public money.

记者揭露了几家公司沆瀣一气的内幕。

Jìzhě jiēlù le jǐ jiā gōngsī hàngxièyīqì de nèimù.

The reporter exposed how several companies were colluding behind the scenes.

他们沆瀣一气，欺压百姓。

Tāmen hàngxièyīqì, qīyā bǎixìng.

They ganged up to oppress the common people.

Tips

history

From a Tang civil-service exam in 875 CE, where examiner 崔沆 passed a candidate named 崔瀣. Wags joked 'Hang and Xie are one breath' — the examiner showing favoritism. Originally a clever pun, now strictly negative.

mistakes

Strongly pejorative — only use for collusion in wrongdoing. Never apply it to legitimate cooperation.

Stroke Order

沆 hàng

瀣 xiè

一 yī

气 qì