狼狈为奸

狼狽為奸

lángbèi-wéijiān

idiom #30,972

Meanings

1 wolf and bei work together for evil
2 collude in wrongdoing
3 act as partners in crime

Characters

a legendary wolf-like beast

Examples

HSK 7-9

这两个官员狼狈为奸，私吞了大笔公款。

Zhè liǎng gè guānyuán lángbèi-wéijiān, sī tūn le dàbǐ gōngkuǎn.

These two officials colluded and embezzled a huge sum of public funds.

HSK 7-9

他们狼狈为奸多年，终于被警方抓获。

Tāmen lángbèi-wéijiān duōnián, zhōngyú bèi jǐngfāng zhuāhuò.

After years of conspiring together they were finally caught by police.

Tips

history

From Tang-dynasty Duan Chengshi's 《酉阳杂俎》. According to legend, 狈 is a creature with very short front legs that must ride on a 狼 (wolf) to move; the pair symbolize partners who cannot function apart in mischief.

Stroke Order

狼 láng

狈 bèi

为 wéi

奸 jiān