金毛鼠

jīnmáoshǔ
phrase

Meanings

  1. 1 a literate but corrupt official
  2. 2 a crooked scholar-bureaucrat (literally 'golden-furred rat')

Examples

HSK 5
Lìshǐ shàng xiàng jīnmáoshǔ nàyàng de rénwù bùshǎo.
History has no shortage of figures like the 'golden-furred rats' - educated but crooked.
HSK 7-9
Nàge tānguān búguò shì ge pī zhe wénhuà wàiyī de jīnmáoshǔ.
That corrupt official is nothing but a crooked scholar-bureaucrat dressed up in learning.

Tips

culture
The image combines 金毛 (glossy, high-status fur - a marker of refinement) with (a pilfering rodent). The phrase targets officials whose literacy or status is just a cover for graft.

Stroke Order

jīn
máo
shǔ