沽名钓誉

沽名釣譽

gūmíng-diàoyù

idiom HSK 7-9 #50,382

Meanings

他做慈善不是真心的，只是在沽名钓誉。

Tā zuò císhàn bùshì zhēnxīn de, zhǐshì zài gūmíngdiàoyù.

His charity work isn't sincere; he's just fishing for a good reputation.

我们不要做沽名钓誉的事。

Wǒmen bùyào zuò gūmíngdiàoyù de shì.

We shouldn't do things just to seek praise.

A derogatory idiom used to criticize people who do good deeds only for public recognition. Carries a strongly negative tone.

memory

沽 means 'to buy/sell,' 钓 means 'to fish for' — imagine someone buying a name (fame) and fishing for praise.

沽 gū

名 míng

钓 diào

誉 yù