# 以邻为壑

yǐ lín wéi hè

Shift one's burdens onto others

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Use the neighbor as a drainage ditch

**Traditional Chinese:** 以鄰為壑

**Register:** Critical · formal

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

## When to use it

Criticize solving one's problem by harming another party.

More specific than ordinary competition or a shared inconvenience.

## Understanding the expression

A drainage channel carries unwanted water away, but using a neighbor's space transfers the damage instead of resolving it fairly. The expression criticizes policies or actions that improve one's position by imposing costs on others. Pollution, risk, and financial burdens can all supply the modern analogy. The central issue is externalizing harm. A cooperative solution shares responsibility, whereas this approach treats another person or community as the place where one's unwanted consequences can be dumped.

## Examples

把污水排到邻村，是以邻为壑。

### Traditional Chinese

把汙水排到鄰村，是以鄰為壑。

bǎ wū shuǐ pái dào lín cūn ， shì yǐ lín wéi hè 。

Dumping wastewater on the neighboring village shifts harm unfairly.

不能以邻为壑，把风险转给用户。

### Traditional Chinese

不能以鄰為壑，把風險轉給用戶。

bù néng yǐ lín wéi hè ， bǎ fēng xiǎn zhuǎn gěi yòng hù 。

Risk must not be unfairly shifted onto users.

这项政策以邻为壑，损害周边地区。

### Traditional Chinese

這項政策以鄰為壑，損害周邊地區。

zhè xiàng zhèng cè yǐ lín wéi hè ， sǔn hài zhōu biān dì qū 。

The policy improves one area's position at others' expense.

合作应避免以邻为壑。

### Traditional Chinese

合作應避免以鄰為壑。

hé zuò yìng bì miǎn yǐ lín wéi hè 。

Cooperation should avoid passing burdens onto others.

## 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=%E4%BB%A5%E9%84%B0%E7%82%BA%E5%A3%91)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=649&webMd=1&la=0)

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