# 利令智昏

lì lìng zhì hūn

Let greed cloud judgment

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Profit makes wisdom dark

**Register:** Critical · general

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

## When to use it

Criticize decisions corrupted by the lure of gain.

Profit-seeking itself is not necessarily irrational or wrong.

## Understanding the expression

The prospect of gain becomes so bright that sound judgment seems to darken beside it. The expression describes someone overlooking risks, ethics, or obvious contradictions because profit is tempting. It often explains fraud, reckless investment, or conflicts of interest. The failure is not simply wanting income. It is allowing that desire to suppress information and principles that should guide the decision, especially when warning signs were already available to the person.

## Examples

他利令智昏，把全部积蓄投进骗局。

### Traditional Chinese

他利令智昏，把全部積蓄投進騙局。

tā lì lìng zhì hūn ， bǎ quán bù jī xù tóu jìn piàn jú 。

Greed clouded his judgment and he invested all his savings in a scam.

商家利令智昏，出售过期食品。

### Traditional Chinese

商家利令智昏，出售過期食品。

shāng jiā lì lìng zhì hūn ， chū shòu guò qī shí pǐn 。

The seller's greed led to selling expired food.

别被高回报弄得利令智昏。

### Traditional Chinese

別被高回報弄得利令智昏。

bié bèi gāo huí bào nòng dé lì lìng zhì hūn 。

Do not let promised high returns cloud your judgment.

调查指出负责人利令智昏，隐瞒风险。

### Traditional Chinese

調查指出負責人利令智昏，隱瞞風險。

diào chá zhǐ chū fù zé rén lì lìng zhì hūn ， yǐn mán fēng xiǎn 。

The investigation found that profit led the manager to conceal risks.

## 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%88%A9%E4%BB%A4%E6%99%BA%E6%98%8F)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=530&webMd=1&la=0)

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