贪污 (tānwū) is one of the most serious accusations in Chinese society and a central theme in modern Chinese politics. The Chinese government has waged massive, ongoing anti-corruption campaigns, famously summarized by the slogan 打老虎 (dǎ lǎohǔ), or “beating the tigers,” which refers to targeting high-level, powerful officials. News about officials being investigated for `贪污` is a constant feature in media. This focus has deep cultural roots. Historically, a dynasty's legitimacy, or “Mandate of Heaven” (天命 tiānmìng), was tied to its ability to govern justly and without corruption. A government plagued by `贪污` was seen as having lost this mandate. Today, while the imperial concept is gone, the underlying value remains: the government is expected to be clean and serve the people, and `贪污` is a profound betrayal of that expectation. Comparison to Western Concepts: In English, “corruption” is a very broad term. `贪污 (tānwū)` is much more specific, aligning closely with the legal concepts of “embezzlement” (stealing funds you manage) or “graft” (using public authority for personal gain). While all `贪污` is a form of `腐败 (fǔbài)` (the general term for corruption), not all `腐败` is `贪污`. For example, giving a job to your unqualified nephew (nepotism) is `腐败`, but it isn't `贪污` unless money was illegally pocketed in the process.
贪污 (tānwū) is a formal and very serious word. You will encounter it most often in the following contexts:
Its connotation is exclusively negative and carries significant weight. Accusing someone of `贪污` is a grave matter.