# 狼狈为奸

láng bèi wéi jiān

Collude to do something dishonest

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** A wolf and its mythical partner conspire in wrongdoing

**Traditional Chinese:** 狼狽為奸

**Register:** Critical · conversational

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

## When to use it

Use to condemn people who cooperate in fraud or other harmful acts.

It is a serious accusation of collusion, not a label for ordinary cooperation.

## Understanding the expression

The animal pairing is associated with a folk account of a wolf and a dependent wolf-like creature cooperating. It is a traditional image, not a claim about real zoology. Modern use condemns people who coordinate dishonest or harmful acts. The essential element is a shared wrongful purpose. Its tone is openly hostile, so distinguish evidence of collusion from a suspicion based only on people knowing one another.

## Examples

两个商家狼狈为奸，合伙欺骗顾客。

### Traditional Chinese

兩個商家狼狽為奸，合夥欺騙顧客。

liǎng gè shāng jiā láng bèi wéi jiān ， hé huǒ qī piàn gù kè 。

The two businesses colluded to cheat customers.

调查发现内部人员和骗子狼狈为奸。

### Traditional Chinese

調查發現內部人員和騙子狼狽為奸。

diào chá fā xiàn nèi bù rén yuán hé piàn zi láng bèi wéi jiān 。

The investigation found that insiders had colluded with the fraudsters.

不能只凭一张合影，就说他们狼狈为奸。

### Traditional Chinese

不能只憑一張合影，就說他們狼狽為奸。

bù néng zhī píng yì zhāng hé yǐng ， jiù shuō tā men láng bèi wéi jiān 。

A photograph together is not enough to accuse them of collusion.

这部小说揭露了几名官员狼狈为奸的过程。

### Traditional Chinese

這部小說揭露了幾名官員狼狽為奸的過程。

zhè bù xiǎo shuō jiē lù le jǐ míng guān yuán láng bèi wéi jiān de guò chéng 。

The novel exposes how several officials conspired in wrongdoing.

## 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=%E7%8B%BC%E7%8B%BD%E7%82%BA%E5%A5%B8)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=31&webMd=1&la=0)

- [Wiktionary · 狼狽 folk etymology](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E7%8B%BC%E7%8B%BD)

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