tóngliúhéwū: 同流合污 - To Wallow in the Mire, To Go Along with a Bad Crowd

• Keywords: tóngliúhéwū, 同流合污 meaning, Chinese idiom for corruption, associate with bad people Chinese, go along with the crowd, wallow in the mire with, Chinese chengyu, join in wrongdoing, compromise principles Chinese
• Summary: “Tóngliúhéwū” (同流合污) is a powerful Chinese idiom (chengyu) that describes the act of abandoning one's moral principles to join in with a corrupt or unethical group. It literally translates to “flow in the same stream and join the filth,” painting a vivid picture of someone willingly becoming dirty. This term is highly negative and is often used in contexts of political corruption, business scandals, or to criticize someone who has lost their integrity by associating with the wrong people.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): tóng liú hé wū
• Part of Speech: Idiom (Chengyu); Verb Phrase
• HSK Level: N/A (Advanced/Chengyu)
• Concise Definition: To associate with corrupt people and join in their wrongdoing.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine you are standing by a dirty, polluted river. You have a choice: stay on the clean bank, or jump in and get filthy with everything else flowing by. `同流合污` is the act of choosing to jump in. It implies a conscious decision to compromise your integrity, often for personal gain or to fit in with a corrupt environment. It's not just “going with the flow”; it's going with a flow you know is wrong.

• 同 (tóng): Same; together; with.
• 流 (liú): To flow; a stream; a current.
• 合 (hé): To join; to combine; to unite with.
• 污 (wū): Dirt; filth; pollution; corruption.

These characters combine to create a powerful metaphor. 同流 (tóng liú) means to “flow in the same stream,” suggesting joining a movement or group. 合污 (hé wū) means to “unite with the filth.” Together, `同流合污` creates the image of willingly joining a corrupt current and becoming part of the pollution.

`同流合污` is deeply rooted in Chinese cultural values that emphasize personal integrity and moral uprightness (`清白 - qīngbái`). In Confucian thought, the ideal individual, or “gentleman” (`君子 - jūnzǐ`), is expected to maintain their principles regardless of the surrounding environment. The famous saying 出淤泥而不染 (chū yū ní ér bù rǎn)—“to emerge from the mud unstained”—represents this ideal. It describes a person who can live and work in a corrupt environment without becoming corrupt themselves. `同流合污` is the direct and shameful opposite of this noble concept. It represents a total moral failure. A Westerner might be tempted to compare it to the phrase “If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.” However, this comparison is flawed. The English phrase often carries a tone of cynical pragmatism or resignation, and can sometimes be used neutrally or humorously. `同流合污`, in contrast, is always a serious and heavy condemnation. It carries no sense of practicality, only of moral decay. It is closer in feeling to “selling one's soul” or “wallowing in the mire with swine.”

This is a formal idiom, primarily used in writing, news media, formal speeches, and serious discussions. You would rarely hear it in very casual, lighthearted conversation. Its connotation is exclusively negative and serves as a strong accusation.

• In Politics and Media: This is a go-to phrase for journalists and commentators describing political corruption. It's often used when officials are found to be colluding with corrupt business people or other officials.
• In Business and the Workplace: It can be used to describe a company that engages in industry-wide unethical practices or an employee who starts cutting corners and breaking rules after joining a team with a bad work ethic.
• In Personal Morality: It can be used as a warning from a parent or elder to a younger person, cautioning them against falling in with a bad crowd and losing their way.

• Example 1:
  • 他是个正直的官员，绝不会与那些腐败分子同流合污。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì ge zhèngzhí de guānyuán, jué bù huì yǔ nàxiē fǔbài fènzǐ tóngliúhéwū.
  • English: He is an upright official; he would never stoop to collaborating with those corrupt elements.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the term to praise someone's integrity by stating what they *refuse* to do. It highlights the contrast between being “upright” (`正直`) and the act of `同流合污`.
• Example 2:
  • 面对巨大的利益诱惑，他最终还是选择了同流合污。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì jùdà de lìyì yòuhuò, tā zuìzhōng háishì xuǎnzéle tóngliúhéwū.
  • English: Faced with the temptation of huge profits, he ultimately chose to join in the corruption.
  • Analysis: This shows the cause and effect. The “temptation” (`诱惑`) led to the moral compromise of `同流合污`. It implies a conscious, and weak, decision.
• Example 3:
  • 父母总是告诫我，交朋友要小心，千万不要同流合污。
  • Pinyin: Fùmǔ zǒngshì gàojiè wǒ, jiāo péngyǒu yào xiǎoxīn, qiānwàn bùyào tóngliúhéwū.
  • English: My parents always warned me to be careful when making friends and to never get involved with a bad crowd.
  • Analysis: A classic example of the term used as a moral warning in a personal, ethical context.
• Example 4:
  • 在那个混乱的时代，很多人为了生存不得不同流合污。
  • Pinyin: Zài nàge hùnluàn de shídài, hěnduō rén wèile shēngcún bùdébù tóngliúhéwū.
  • English: In that chaotic era, many people had no choice but to compromise their principles just to survive.
  • Analysis: This example adds a layer of nuance. While the act itself is still negative, the phrase `不得不 (bùdébù)`—“have no choice but to”—suggests it was done out of desperation rather than pure greed, making it slightly more sympathetic.
• Example 5:
  • 这家公司的企业文化太差了，我不想为了保住工作而同流合污。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī de qǐyè wénhuà tài chà le, wǒ bùxiǎng wèile bǎozhù gōngzuò ér tóngliúhéwū.
  • English: This company's corporate culture is terrible; I don't want to compromise my morals just to keep my job.
  • Analysis: A modern, workplace-related example. It shows someone making the morally correct choice to *avoid* `同流合污`.
• Example 6:
  • 整个部门都参与了这件事，他一个人很难做到出淤泥而不染，最终也同流合污了。
  • Pinyin: Zhěnggè bùmén dōu cānyù le zhè jiàn shì, tā yīgè rén hěn nán zuòdào chū yū ní ér bù rǎn, zuìzhōng yě tóngliúhéwū le.
  • English: The entire department was involved in this matter. It was difficult for him alone to remain untainted, and in the end, he also went along with them.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts `同流合污` with its idealistic opposite, `出淤泥而不染 (chū yū ní ér bù rǎn)`, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining integrity under immense peer pressure.
• Example 7:
  • 你是想让我背叛原则，和他们同流合污吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shì xiǎng ràng wǒ bèipàn yuánzé, hé tāmen tóngliúhéwū ma?
  • English: Are you asking me to betray my principles and join their corrupt practices?
  • Analysis: This shows the idiom used in a rhetorical question to strongly reject a proposal and accuse the other person of suggesting something immoral.
• Example 8:
  • 调查发现，该市有数名官员同流合污，共同接受了巨额贿赂。
  • Pinyin: Diàochá fāxiàn, gāi shì yǒu shù míng guānyuán tóngliúhéwū, gòngtóng jiēshòule jù'é huìlù.
  • English: The investigation discovered that several officials in the city had colluded, jointly accepting massive bribes.
  • Analysis: This is typical language found in a news report about a corruption scandal. It's formal, direct, and damning.
• Example 9:
  • 电影主角拒绝同流合污，并最终揭露了整个阴谋。
  • Pinyin: Diànyǐng zhǔjué jùjué tóngliúhéwū, bìng zuìzhōng jiēlùle zhěnggè yīnmóu.
  • English: The movie's protagonist refused to go along with the corruption and ultimately exposed the entire conspiracy.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates its use in storytelling to establish a character as a hero with strong moral fiber.
• Example 10:
  • 与其同流合污地活着，不如坚守底线，活得心安理得。
  • Pinyin: Yǔqí tóngliúhéwū de huózhe, bùrú jiānshǒu dǐxiàn, huó de xīn'ān lǐdé.
  • English: Rather than live a life of corrupt compromise, it's better to stick to your principles and live with a clear conscience.
  • Analysis: A philosophical statement contrasting a life of `同流合污` with a life of integrity (`心安理得 - xīn'ān lǐdé`).

• Mistake 1: Confusing it with simply “going with the flow”.

A common mistake is to use `同流合污` for any situation involving peer pressure. This term is reserved for situations involving moral corruption or wrongdoing. If you're just talking about following a trend or doing what everyone else is doing in a neutral context (e.g., adopting a fashion style), you should use `随大流 (suí dà liú)`.

• Incorrect: 我的同事都用这款手机，所以我也同流合污买了一个。 (Wǒ de tóngshì dōu yòng zhè kuǎn shǒujī, suǒyǐ wǒ yě tóngliúhéwū mǎi le yīgè.) → This is wrong because buying a phone is not an immoral act.
• Correct: 我的同事都用这款手机，所以我也随大流买了一个。 (Wǒ de tóngshì dōu yòng zhè kuǎn shǒujī, suǒyǐ wǒ yě suí dà liú mǎi le yīgè.)
• Mistake 2: Using it for minor transgressions.

`同流合污` is a very strong, formal idiom. Using it for minor issues, like a student cheating on a test because his friends did, would be an exaggeration. It's better suited for serious ethical breaches like bribery, collusion, fraud, and covering up crimes.

• 沆瀣一气 (hàng xiè yī qì): A close synonym meaning “to be in cahoots with” or “to act in collusion.” Describes people of the same corrupt kind banding together.
• 狼狈为奸 (láng bèi wéi jiān): Literally “a wolf and a `bei` (a mythical creature) collude to do evil.” A vivid idiom for two parties working together for a malicious purpose.
• 出淤泥而不染 (chū yū ní ér bù rǎn): (Antonym) “To emerge from the mud unstained.” The perfect opposite, describing someone who maintains their purity and integrity in a corrupt environment.
• 洁身自好 (jié shēn zì hào): (Antonymic Action) “To keep oneself clean and value oneself.” The act of consciously avoiding corrupting influences to protect one's integrity. This is the choice one makes to *avoid* `同流合污`.
• 随大流 (suí dà liú): (Neutral Alternative) “To follow the crowd; to go with the flow.” Lacks the negative moral judgment of `同流合污`.
• 贪污 (tānwū): (Related Action) The specific act of “embezzlement” or “corruption.” `同流合污` often involves multiple people engaging in `贪污` together.
• 同舟共济 (tóng zhōu gòng jì): (Positive Analogy) “To be in the same boat and cross the river together.” An idiom that also starts with `同`, but describes positive cooperation and mutual help in difficult times. A great contrast.