中饱私囊

中飽私囊

zhōngbǎo-sīnáng

idiom #33,897

Meanings

1 to line one's own pockets
2 to embezzle funds passing through one's hands
3 to pocket money meant for others

Characters

middle; in between

to fill; satiate

private; personal

Examples

HSK 6

救灾款不能让人中饱私囊。

Jiùzāi kuǎn bùnéng ràng rén zhōngbǎosīnáng.

Disaster-relief funds must not end up in anyone's pockets.

HSK 7-9

他利用职权中饱私囊，最终被起诉。

Tā lìyòng zhíquán zhōngbǎosīnáng, zuìzhōng bèi qǐsù.

He abused his position to line his own pockets, and was eventually prosecuted.

HSK 7-9

这家公司的管理层中饱私囊，账目混乱。

Zhè jiā gōngsī de guǎnlǐcéng zhōngbǎosīnáng, zhàngmù hùnluàn.

The company's management embezzled funds, and the books are a mess.

Tips

history

From 《韩非子·外储说右下》: Bo Yi tells Zhao Jianzi his state is 中饱 - the treasury is empty, the people starve, but the corrupt clerks in the middle are well-fed. 中饱 originally meant 'the middle is full (at the expense of both ends)'. 私囊 ('private purse') was added later for clarity.

register

Formal, written register - common in news about corruption, embezzlement, and fraud cases. Rarely used in casual speech.

Stroke Order

中 zhōng

饱 bǎo

私 sī

囊 náng