# 沽名钓誉

gū míng diào yù

Seek fame through calculated display

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Sell for a name and fish for praise

**Traditional Chinese:** 沽名釣譽

**Register:** Critical · formal

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Criticize actions mainly intended to gain reputation.

Publicizing useful work is not automatically insincere.

## Understanding the expression

The phrase turns reputation into something deliberately traded for or caught. Modern use criticizes people who perform good deeds, make claims, or adopt poses mainly to win praise. It questions motive rather than denying that the action happened. Because motives can be difficult to know, the accusation needs care. Sharing a useful result or seeking fair recognition can be legitimate; the problem is sacrificing sincerity or substance to the pursuit of public approval.

## Examples

他被批评做慈善只是沽名钓誉。

### Traditional Chinese

他被批評做慈善只是沽名釣譽。

tā bèi pī píng zuò cí shàn zhǐ shì gū míng diào yù 。

He was criticized for using charity to seek fame.

她不想沽名钓誉，默默提供帮助。

### Traditional Chinese

她不想沽名釣譽，默默提供幫助。

tā bù xiǎng gū míng diào yù ， mò mò tí gōng bāng zhù 。

She helps quietly rather than chasing praise.

别把公开感谢都说成沽名钓誉。

### Traditional Chinese

別把公開感謝都說成沽名釣譽。

bié bǎ gōng kāi gǎn xiè dōu shuō chéng gū míng diào yù 。

Do not call every public acknowledgment reputation seeking.

那篇文章指责他沽名钓誉。

### Traditional Chinese

那篇文章指責他沽名釣譽。

nà piān wén zhāng zhǐ zé tā gū míng diào yù 。

The article accuses him of fishing for acclaim.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%B2%BD%E5%90%8D%E9%87%A3%E8%AD%BD)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=319&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

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- [瓜田李下 guā tián lǐ xià Circumstances that invite suspicion ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/gua-tian-li-xia)

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