饱私囊

飽私囊
bǎosīnáng
phrase

Meanings

  1. 1 to stuff one's pockets
  2. 2 to enrich oneself dishonestly
  3. 3 to pocket (illicit gains)

Examples

HSK 7-9
Tā lìyòng zhíwù zhī biàn bǎo sīnáng.
He used the convenience of his position to line his own pockets.
HSK 7-9
贪官靠贪污腐败饱私囊。
Tānguān kào tānwū fǔbài bǎo sīnáng.
Corrupt officials enrich themselves through graft.

Tips

usage
Almost always appears as 中饱私囊 ('to pocket [funds] mid-transit') - the standard idiom for an official skimming public money. 中饱 means 'middleman skimming'; 私囊 is 'private purse'. Standalone 饱私囊 is a shortened form.
memory
Picture money flowing from the public coffers (公) to its destination - but a corrupt middleman fills (饱 'fill to fullness') his private bag (私囊) along the way.

Stroke Order

饱 bǎo
私 sī
囊 náng