wéilìshìtú: 唯利是图 - To be solely profit-driven; Mercenary; To do anything for profit

  • Keywords: wéi lì shì tú, weilishitu, 唯利是图, Chinese idiom for profit-driven, mercenary in Chinese, only cares about money, greedy Chinese phrase, Chinese chengyu, unscrupulous, self-interested, putting profit above all else.
  • Summary: Discover the meaning of 唯利是图 (wéi lì shì tú), a powerful Chinese idiom (chengyu) used to describe someone who is unscrupulously profit-driven. This term is a strong criticism, implying that a person or company will do anything for financial gain, completely disregarding morals, ethics, or relationships. Learning 唯利是图 provides deep insight into Chinese cultural values and the ethical critique of greed and modern capitalism.
  • Pinyin (with tone marks): wéi lì shì tú
  • Part of Speech: Idiom (Chengyu), Adjective
  • HSK Level: Advanced / HSK 6+
  • Concise Definition: To be exclusively focused on profit, often at the expense of morality and principles.
  • In a Nutshell: 唯利是图 (wéi lì shì tú) is a four-character idiom that paints a vivid picture of a person whose only goal in life is to chase profit. It's a heavy criticism, suggesting that this person is greedy, selfish, and lacks a moral compass. Imagine a villain in a story who would betray their own family for a pot of gold – that's the negative, mercenary feeling captured by this term. It's never a compliment.
  • 唯 (wéi): Only, solely, exclusively. It sets up the single-minded focus.
  • 利 (lì): Profit, benefit, advantage. This is the object of the person's desire.
  • 是 (shì): Is, to be. In this classical structure, it acts as a pronoun or a way to emphasize the object, effectively meaning “this” or “it”. So, “Only profit, this…”
  • 图 (tú): To seek, to pursue, to plan for. This is the action.

Putting it all together, the literal structure is “Only profit is what (they) pursue.” This emphasizes the extreme, all-consuming nature of their greed.

The idiom 唯利是图 taps into a deep-seated tension in Chinese culture between righteousness (义, yì) and profit (利, lì). Confucian philosophy, which has shaped Chinese thought for millennia, traditionally places a high value on ethical conduct and social duty over personal gain. A famous saying from Confucius is, “君子喻于义,小人喻于利” (Jūnzǐ yù yú yì, xiǎorén yù yú lì), which means “The noble person understands righteousness; the petty person understands profit.” Therefore, to be called 唯利是图 is to be labeled a “petty person” (小人, xiǎorén) who has abandoned the nobler pursuits of a “gentleman” or “noble person” (君子, jūnzǐ). A useful Western comparison is the term “profit-driven.” In a business context, “profit-driven” can be a neutral or even positive descriptor, suggesting efficiency and success. However, 唯利是图 is always negative. It's closer in meaning to “mercenary,” “profiteering,” or “unscrupulously greedy.” While an American CEO might proudly state their company is “profit-driven,” a Chinese CEO would be deeply insulted if they were described as 唯利是图, as it's a direct attack on their character and moral integrity.

This term is formal and carries significant weight. You'll encounter it in more serious contexts.

  • Business and Economics: It's frequently used in news articles, social media commentary, and discussions to criticize companies that engage in unethical practices, such as selling unsafe products, polluting the environment, or exploiting workers, all for the sake of higher profits.
  • Social Commentary: People use it to describe individuals who are perceived as selfish, such as someone who would scam an elderly person or betray a friend for money.
  • Politics: It can be used to condemn corrupt officials who abuse their power for personal financial gain.

The connotation is uniformly negative and highly critical. It's not a term you would use lightly in casual conversation unless you intend to make a very strong moral judgment.

  • Example 1:
    • 那家公司为了降低成本,使用劣质材料,真是唯利是图
    • Pinyin: Nà jiā gōngsī wèile jiàngdī chéngběn, shǐyòng lièzhì cáiliào, zhēnshi wéilìshìtú!
    • English: That company used inferior materials to cut costs; they are truly only interested in profit!
    • Analysis: This is a classic use case, criticizing a business for unethical practices. The term delivers a sharp, moral condemnation.
  • Example 2:
    • 他是个唯利是图的商人,只要能赚钱,什么都肯做。
    • Pinyin: Tā shì ge wéilìshìtú de shāngrén, zhǐyào néng zhuànqián, shénme dōu kěn zuò.
    • English: He is a mercenary businessman; as long as he can make money, he's willing to do anything.
    • Analysis: Here, the idiom functions as an adjective to directly describe the character of the “businessman” (商人, shāngrén).
  • Example 3:
    • 在选择合作伙伴时,一定要避开那些唯利是图的人。
    • Pinyin: Zài xuǎnzé hézuò huǒbàn shí, yídìng yào bìkāi nàxiē wéilìshìtú de rén.
    • English: When choosing business partners, you must avoid those who are solely profit-driven.
    • Analysis: This sentence offers practical advice, using the term to define a type of person one should not trust in a professional setting.
  • Example 4:
    • 这部电影深刻地揭露了资本主义社会中一些人唯利是图的本性。
    • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng shēnkè de jiēlùle zīběnzhǔyì shèhuì zhōng yìxiē rén wéilìshìtú de běnxìng.
    • English: This movie profoundly reveals the mercenary nature of some people in capitalist society.
    • Analysis: The term is used here in a more academic or critical context to analyze societal issues.
  • Example 5:
    • 我真不敢相信,他为了升职,竟然出卖了最好的朋友,太唯利是图了。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ zhēn bùgǎn xiāngxìn, tā wèile shēngzhí, jìngrán chūmài le zuì hǎo de péngyou, tài wéilìshìtú le.
    • English: I can't believe he sold out his best friend for a promotion. That's so mercenary.
    • Analysis: This shows the term applied to a personal betrayal, where the “profit” is career advancement rather than just money.
  • Example 6:
    • 我们的教育不应该只教学生如何赚钱,否则会培养出唯利是图的下一代。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen de jiàoyù bù yìnggāi zhǐ jiāo xuéshēng rúhé zhuànqián, fǒuzé huì péiyǎng chū wéilìshìtú de xià yídài.
    • English: Our education shouldn't just teach students how to make money, otherwise we will cultivate a mercenary next generation.
    • Analysis: This sentence frames 唯利是图 as a negative societal outcome to be avoided through proper moral education.
  • Example 7:
    • 他坚称自己的公司不是唯利是图,而是致力于创造社会价值。
    • Pinyin: Tā jiānchēng zìjǐ de gōngsī búshì wéilìshìtú, érshì zhìlì yú chuàngzào shèhuì jiàzhí.
    • English: He insisted his company is not just about making profits, but is dedicated to creating social value.
    • Analysis: This shows how someone might use the term in a denial, contrasting it with a more positive goal (“creating social value”).
  • Example 8:
    • 那个政客被指责唯利是图,把国家利益放在了个人利益之后。
    • Pinyin: Nàge zhèngkè bèi zhǐzé wéilìshìtú, bǎ guójiā lìyì fàng zài le gèrén lìyì zhīhòu.
    • English: That politician was accused of being mercenary, putting his personal interests ahead of the national interest.
    • Analysis: This demonstrates the term's use in a political context, where the “profit” is personal political or financial gain at the expense of public duty.
  • Example 9:
    • 做人不能太唯利是图,友情和亲情比金钱更重要。
    • Pinyin: Zuòrén bùnéng tài wéilìshìtú, yǒuqíng hé qīnqíng bǐ jīnqián gèng zhòngyào.
    • English: You can't be too mercenary in life; friendship and family are more important than money.
    • Analysis: A sentence expressing a common moral sentiment, using the idiom as a warning against a certain way of life.
  • Example 10:
    • 如果一个社会充满了唯利是图的风气,那将是非常危险的。
    • Pinyin: Rúguǒ yíge shèhuì chōngmǎnle wéilìshìtú de fēngqì, nà jiāng shì fēicháng wēixiǎn de.
    • English: If a society is filled with a mercenary atmosphere, that would be very dangerous.
    • Analysis: This example elevates the concept to describe a general social atmosphere (风气, fēngqì), highlighting its broader implications.
  • Don't Confuse with “Ambitious” or “Business-Savvy”: The most common mistake for English speakers is to use 唯利是图 to describe someone who is simply good at business or driven to succeed. This is incorrect. The term carries a strong implication of immorality. A smart entrepreneur who creates value is not 唯利是图; a person who sells fake medicine to get rich is.
  • It's a Strong Accusation: Calling someone 唯利是图 is a serious insult to their character. It's not a light or casual critique. Be sure you intend to convey that level of moral judgment before using it.
  • False Friend: “Profit-Driven”: As mentioned, “profit-driven” can be a neutral term in English. 唯利是图 is never neutral. It is always a condemnation. If you want to say a company is focused on making money in a neutral way, you might say “这家公司很重视利润” (zhè jiā gōngsī hěn zhòngshì lìrùn - This company places great importance on profit).
  • 见利忘义 (jiàn lì wàng yì) - “To see profit and forget righteousness.” A very close synonym that explicitly highlights the abandonment of morals (义, yì) for gain (利, lì).
  • 奸商 (jiān shāng) - “Unscrupulous merchant; crook.” This is a noun for a person who embodies the principle of 唯利是图.
  • 不择手段 (bù zé shǒu duàn) - “By any means necessary; unscrupulous.” This describes the methods that a 唯利是图 person might use to achieve their goals.
  • 自私自利 (zì sī zì lì) - “Selfish and self-serving.” A broader term for selfishness. 唯利是图 is a specific type of selfishness focused on material or financial profit.
  • 爱财如命 (ài cái rú mìng) - “To love money as much as one's own life.” Describes the deep-seated greed of a person, very similar in feeling.
  • 大公无私 (dà gōng wú sī) - “Selfless and devoted to the public good.” A direct antonym, representing the ideal Confucian character.
  • (yì) - “Righteousness, justice, morality.” This is the core cultural value that a 唯利是图 person ignores.
  • 君子 (jūnzǐ) - “Nobleman, person of noble character.” The ideal person in Confucianism, and the opposite of someone who is 唯利是图.