# 假公济私

jiǎ gōng jì sī

Use a public role or shared responsibility for private gain

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Use the public to benefit the private

**Traditional Chinese:** 假公濟私

**Register:** Critical · formal

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

## When to use it

Criticize exploiting an official role or resources.

Needs misuse of entrusted resources or authority.

## Understanding the expression

The contrast is between what a position is meant to serve and whom its holder actually benefits. Someone claims to act for an organization or the public while directing resources toward personal advantage. It applies to favoritism, misuse of funds, or private errands disguised as official work. The phrase is accusatory. A private benefit that arises incidentally is different from deliberately using entrusted authority for one's own purposes.

## Examples

他用公车旅游，涉嫌假公济私。

### Traditional Chinese

他用公車旅遊，涉嫌假公濟私。

tā yòng gōng chē lǚ yóu ， shè xián jiǎ gōng jì sī 。

His use of an official car for travel suggests private misuse.

他借管理器材的机会假公济私，先满足自己的需要。

### Traditional Chinese

他借管理器材的機會假公濟私，先滿足自己的需要。

tā jiè guǎn lǐ qì cái de jī huì jiǎ gōng jì sī ， xiān mǎn zú zì jǐ de xū yào 。

He used his responsibility for equipment to favor his own needs.

她拒绝替上司假公济私。

### Traditional Chinese

她拒絕替上司假公濟私。

tā jù jué tì shàng sī jiǎ gōng jì sī 。

She refused to help her boss misuse public resources.

透明的记录可以减少假公济私的机会。

### Traditional Chinese

透明的記錄可以減少假公濟私的機會。

tòu míng de jì lù kě yǐ jiǎn shǎo jiǎ gōng jì sī de jī huì 。

Transparent records can reduce opportunities to misuse a shared role for private gain.

## 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=%E5%81%87%E5%85%AC%E6%BF%9F%E7%A7%81)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=110&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [将心比心 jiāng xīn bǐ xīn Put yourself in another person’s place ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/jiang-xin-bi-xin)

- [娇生惯养 jiāo shēng guàn yǎng Be overindulged and spoiled from childhood ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/jiao-sheng-guan-yang)

- [交头接耳 jiāo tóu jiē ěr Whisper closely to one another ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/jiao-tou-jie-er)

- [教学相长 jiào xué xiāng zhǎng Teaching and learning help each other develop ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/jiao-xue-xiang-zhang)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 积重难返 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ji-zhong-nan-fan) [Next idiom 驾轻就熟 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/jia-qing-jiu-shu)