中饱

中飽

zhōngbǎo

verb

Meanings

1 to embezzle money passing through one's hands
2 to line one's pockets

Characters

Examples

HSK 7-9

这笔钱层层转手，大部分都被经手人中饱了。

Zhè bǐ qián céngcéng zhuǎnshǒu, dàbùfen dōu bèi jīngshǒurén zhōngbǎo le.

The money passed through many hands, and most of it was pocketed by the people handling it.

HSK 7-9

为了防止官员贪污中饱，政府公开了每一笔开支。

Wèile fángzhǐ guānyuán tānwū zhōngbǎo, zhèngfǔ gōngkāi le měi yì bǐ kāizhī.

To stop officials from embezzling, the government made every expense public.

Tips

history

In the 韩非子, a minister tells Zhao Jianzi that his state is 中饱. Zhao is pleased until he hears what it means: the treasury above is empty, the people below go hungry, and only the corrupt officials in the middle are full. Today the word mostly lives in 中饱私囊 (to line one's own pockets).

Stroke Order

中 zhōng

饱 bǎo