# 见利忘义

jiàn lì wàng yì

Abandon principle for personal gain

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** See profit and forget righteousness

**Traditional Chinese:** 見利忘義

**Register:** Critical · expressive

[Choices & judgment](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/decisions)

## When to use it

Condemn betrayal or dishonesty motivated by benefit.

Not a criticism of earning honest income.

## Understanding the expression

Profit captures the person’s attention so completely that an ethical obligation is pushed aside. The expression criticizes choices such as betraying a friend, cheating customers, or breaking a promise to secure an advantage. The fault is the sacrificed principle, not the existence of profit. Earning money honestly or negotiating a fair benefit is different. A strong example identifies the obligation abandoned and the gain that tempted the person to abandon it.

## Examples

他见利忘义，出卖了朋友。

### Traditional Chinese

他見利忘義，出賣了朋友。

tā jiàn lì wàng yì ， chū mài le péng yǒu 。

He betrayed his friend for personal gain.

商家不能见利忘义，卖假药。

### Traditional Chinese

商家不能見利忘義，賣假藥。

shāng jiā bù néng jiàn lì wàng yì ， mài jiǎ yào 。

Businesses must not sacrifice morality for profit by selling fake medicine.

她拒绝见利忘义，坚持履约。

### Traditional Chinese

她拒絕見利忘義，堅持履約。

tā jù jué jiàn lì wàng yì ， jiān chí lǚ yuē 。

She refused to abandon principle for gain and honored the contract.

见利忘义使他失去了伙伴。

### Traditional Chinese

見利忘義使他失去了夥伴。

jiàn lì wàng yì shǐ tā shī qù le huǒ bàn 。

His pursuit of gain at the expense of loyalty cost him his partners.

## 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=%E8%A6%8B%E5%88%A9%E5%BF%98%E7%BE%A9)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=860&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [见异思迁 jiàn yì sī qiān Keep changing interests when something new appears ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/jian-yi-si-qian)

- [将计就计 jiāng jì jiù jì Turn another person’s scheme against them ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/jiang-ji-jiu-ji)

- [狡兔三窟 jiǎo tù sān kū Keep several routes of escape or backup plans ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/jiao-tu-san-ku)

- [矫枉过正 jiǎo wǎng guò zhèng Overcorrect a problem ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/jiao-wang-guo-zheng)

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