dé guò qiě guò: 得过且过 - To Muddle Along, Get By, Drift
Quick Summary
Keywords: de guo qie guo, déguòqiěguò, 得过且过 meaning, Chinese idiom for getting by, muddling along in Chinese, drifting through life, unambitious, perfunctory, Chinese chengyu, bare minimum, lack of motivation, going through the motions.
Summary: The Chinese idiom 得过且过 (dé guò qiě guò) describes a passive and unambitious attitude of just getting by or muddling through life. It refers to doing the bare minimum required to pass a day or a task, without any long-term plans, high standards, or motivation for improvement. This term carries a strong negative connotation, criticizing a lack of responsibility and a “that's good enough” mindset in work, studies, or life in general.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): dé guò qiě guò
Part of Speech: Chengyu (Idiom); Verb Phrase
HSK Level: HSK 6
Concise Definition: To be content with just getting by without any ambition or long-term goals.
In a Nutshell: Imagine someone whose life motto is “If I can survive today, I'll worry about tomorrow when it comes.” That's the essence of 得过且过. It's an attitude of passivity and apathy, where a person drifts along, meeting only the most basic requirements and never striving for excellence. It's often used to criticize someone for being lazy, irresponsible, or lacking a future-oriented mindset.
Character Breakdown
得 (dé): Can; able to; to get.
过 (guò): To pass; to get through (a period of time).
且 (qiě): For now; for the time being; temporarily.
过 (guò): To pass; to get through.
The literal structure translates to “If one can get through, then for now, get through.” This vividly paints a picture of someone facing a task or a day and only thinking about how to pass it in the easiest way possible, without considering quality, improvement, or future consequences.
Cultural Context and Significance
In Chinese culture, which traditionally values diligence (勤劳 qínláo), perseverance (吃苦耐劳 chīkǔ nàiláo), and striving for a better future (力争上游 lì zhēng shàng yóu) for oneself and one's family, the 得过且过 attitude is viewed very negatively. It runs counter to the deeply ingrained belief that hard work leads to success and that one has a responsibility to improve their lot in life.
A Westerner might compare 得过且过 to “phoning it in” or “going through the motions.” However, there's a key difference. “Phoning it in” usually refers to a specific task or job, implying a temporary lack of effort. 得过且过, on the other hand, often describes a person's entire philosophy or chronic state of being. It's not just about one lazy afternoon at work; it's about a lifestyle of aimlessness.
Furthermore, it should not be confused with the positive concept of “living in the moment.” While “living in the moment” suggests mindful engagement with the present, 得过且过 implies mindless disengagement and a desire to simply let time pass with minimal effort.
Practical Usage in Modern China
This idiom is common in both spoken and written Chinese and is almost always used critically or as a form of self-deprecation.
In the Workplace: It's frequently used to describe an unmotivated employee who does just enough to avoid getting fired. This person meets deadlines but their work is mediocre, and they show no initiative.
In Education: It can describe a student who only studies enough to pass an exam, with no real interest in learning or achieving high grades.
As a Life Attitude: It is used to criticize someone who lacks ambition, doesn't plan for their career, finances, or personal growth, and seems content to just drift through life.
Self-Criticism: Someone might say, “我最近有点得过且过,” meaning “Lately, I've just been muddling along,” to admit they've been lazy or unmotivated.
Its connotation is consistently negative. To accuse someone of having a 得过且过 attitude is a serious criticism of their character and work ethic.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
他对工作总是得过且过，从不追求完美。
Pinyin: Tā duì gōngzuò zǒngshì dé guò qiě guò, cóngbù zhuīqiú wánměi.
English: He always just gets by with his work and never strives for perfection.
Analysis: This is a typical use case, criticizing a lazy work ethic.
Example 2:
年轻人不能有得过且过的心态，应该为自己的未来奋斗。
Pinyin: Niánqīngrén bùnéng yǒu dé guò qiě guò de xīntài, yīnggāi wèi zìjǐ de wèilái fèndòu.
English: Young people cannot have a “muddle along” mentality; they should fight for their future.
Analysis: This sentence frames the idiom as a negative mindset (心态 xīntài) that one should actively avoid.
Example 3:
如果我们公司的每个人都得过且过，公司很快就会倒闭的。
Pinyin: Rúguǒ wǒmen gōngsī de měi ge rén dōu dé guò qiě guò, gōngsī hěn kuài jiù huì dǎobì de.
English: If everyone in our company just muddles through, the company will go bankrupt very quickly.
Analysis: This example highlights the collective, organizational danger of this attitude.
Example 4:
我知道我不能再这样得过且过了，我需要一个计划。
Pinyin: Wǒ zhīdào wǒ bùnéng zài zhèyàng dé guò qiě guò le, wǒ xūyào yí ge jìhuà.
English: I know I can't keep living like this, just getting by; I need a plan.
Analysis: A self-critical example, where the speaker recognizes the need for change.
Example 5:
他对待感情的态度就是得过且过，从不认真。
Pinyin: Tā duìdài gǎnqíng de tàidù jiùshì dé guò qiě guò, cóngbù rènzhēn.
English: His attitude towards relationships is to just drift along; he's never serious.
Analysis: This shows the idiom can apply to personal life and relationships, not just work or school.
Example 6:
这个项目很重要，我们不能得过且过，必须保证质量。
Pinyin: Zhè ge xiàngmù hěn zhòngyào, wǒmen bùnéng dé guò qiě guò, bìxū bǎozhèng zhìliàng.
English: This project is very important, we can't be perfunctory, we must guarantee quality.
Analysis: Used as a warning against a lazy approach when the stakes are high.
Example 7:
他的学习方法就是得过且过，只要考试及格就行。
Pinyin: Tā de xuéxí fāngfǎ jiùshì dé guò qiě guò, zhǐyào kǎoshì jígé jiù xíng.
English: His study method is just to get by; as long as he passes the exam, it's fine.
Analysis: A classic example describing a student who only aims for the bare minimum (及格 jígé - to pass).
Example 8:
别再得过且过了！你的人生难道就只有这样吗？
Pinyin: Bié zài dé guò qiě guò le! Nǐ de rénshēng nándào jiù zhǐyǒu zhèyàng ma?
English: Stop muddling along! Is this really all you want from your life?
Analysis: An impassioned, almost confrontational use of the term to motivate someone.
Example 9:
有些政府部门办事效率低，就是因为得过且过的作风。
Pinyin: Yǒuxiē zhèngfǔ bùmén bànshì xiàolǜ dī, jiùshì yīnwèi dé guò qiě guò de zuòfēng.
English: Some government departments are inefficient precisely because of a perfunctory work style.
Analysis: This applies the idiom to institutional or bureaucratic behavior (作风 zuòfēng - style, way of doing things).
Example 10:
与其得过且过地活着，不如充满激情地迎接每一天。
Pinyin: Yǔqí dé guò qiě guò de huózhe, bùrú chōngmǎn jīqíng de yíngjiē měi yī tiān.
English: Rather than living a life of just getting by, it's better to greet each day full of passion.
Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts the idiom with its positive opposite, highlighting its negative meaning.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
“Getting By” vs. “Going with the Flow”: A common mistake is to equate 得过且过 with the English phrase “go with the flow.” While both imply a certain passivity, “go with the flow” can be a positive coping mechanism for adapting to changing circumstances. 得过且过, however, is inherently negative and implies a lack of standards, effort, and responsibility. It's not about adapting; it's about giving up on excellence.
Not the Same as “Relaxed”: Do not use this term to describe someone who is simply relaxed or laid-back. A relaxed person can still be highly competent and responsible. 得过且过 describes someone who is apathetic and unmotivated, whose lack of effort negatively impacts the quality of their work or life.
Incorrect Usage Example:
WRONG: 我今天工作很忙，所以只能得过且过了。 (Wǒ jīntiān gōngzuò hěn máng, suǒyǐ zhǐnéng dé guò qiě guò le.)
Reason: This is incorrect because 得过且过 describes a general attitude or mindset, not a specific action taken due to circumstances like being busy. A better word here would be 敷衍 (fūyǎn - to be perfunctory) or 马马虎虎 (mǎmǎhūhū - carelessly). You would say 你不能因为忙就敷衍了事 (Nǐ bùnéng yīnwèi máng jiù fūyǎn liǎoshì - You can't be perfunctory just because you're busy).