bùqiúshàngjìn: 不求上进 - Not Seeking to Improve, Lacking Ambition, Complacent

• Keywords: bù qiú shàng jìn, 不求上进, lack of ambition in Chinese, not seeking to improve, complacent in Chinese, Chinese term for unmotivated, Chinese phrase for lazy, what does bu qiu shang jin mean, Chinese chengyu for unambitious
• Summary: “不求上进” (bù qiú shàng jìn) is a common Chinese idiom (chengyu) used to describe someone who is complacent, lacks ambition, and makes no effort to improve themselves. It carries a strong negative connotation and is often used as a criticism by parents, teachers, or bosses. Understanding this term is key to grasping Chinese cultural values that emphasize hard work, personal development, and striving for progress.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bù qiú shàng jìn
• Part of Speech: Idiom (Chengyu) / Adjective Phrase
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To not seek to make progress; to be content with lagging behind.
• In a Nutshell: This phrase describes a person's character or attitude. It paints a picture of someone who is perfectly happy staying where they are in life, with no desire to learn new skills, get a promotion, or better their situation. In a culture that highly values diligence and ambition, being described as “不求上进” is a serious criticism, implying laziness and a lack of personal responsibility.

• 不 (bù): A negative prefix, meaning “not” or “no”.
• 求 (qiú): To seek, to pursue, or to strive for.
• 上 (shàng): Upward, to advance, or higher.
• 进 (jìn): To progress or to move forward.

When combined, the characters literally mean “not seek upward progress.” The meaning is very transparent, making it a powerful and direct criticism of someone's lack of drive.

In Chinese culture, heavily influenced by Confucian values, there is a profound emphasis on continuous self-improvement, education, and hard work (吃苦耐劳, chīkǔ nàiláo). Success is often seen not just as a personal achievement but as a duty that brings honor to one's family. Consequently, a lack of ambition is not merely a personal choice but a character flaw. A useful comparison is to the Western concept of “work-life balance” or the recent trend of “quiet quitting.” In the West, choosing to prioritize personal time over career advancement can be seen as a healthy and valid lifestyle choice. However, if this attitude is perceived as pure complacency or laziness, it would be labeled in Chinese as “不求上进”. While “quiet quitting” might be a form of protest against exploitative work culture, “不求上进” is almost always interpreted as a personal failing. It represents the antithesis of the “striving” (奋斗, fèndòu) spirit that is celebrated in mainstream Chinese society. This term is frequently used by an older generation to criticize the perceived lack of drive in the younger generation, especially in the context of the modern “lying flat” (躺平, tǎng píng) movement.

“不求上进” is almost always used as a negative label for another person. It's a common phrase in arguments, criticisms, and expressions of disappointment.

• In Parenting and Education: This is classic “parent-scolding” vocabulary. It's used when a child gets poor grades, spends too much time playing games, or shows no interest in their future.
• In the Workplace: A manager might use this term (or think it) to describe an employee who does the bare minimum, shows no initiative, and isn't interested in promotions or taking on more responsibility.
• In Romantic Relationships: It can be a source of major conflict if one partner feels the other is “不求上进”, lacking career goals or the drive to build a better future together.
• Self-Deprecation: A person might use it to describe themselves in a self-deprecating or humorous way, essentially admitting they feel lazy. For example: “我这个人就是有点不求上进，下班就想躺着。(Wǒ zhège rén jiùshì yǒudiǎn bùqiúshàngjìn, xiàbān jiù xiǎng tǎngzhe.)” - “I'm just a bit unambitious; I just want to lie down after work.”

• Example 1:
  • 父母总是批评他不求上进，整天只知道玩游戏。
  • Pinyin: Fùmǔ zǒngshì pīpíng tā bùqiúshàngjìn, zhěng tiān zhǐ zhīdào wán yóuxì.
  • English: His parents always criticize him for being unambitious, only knowing how to play games all day.
  • Analysis: A classic example of parental disappointment. The focus is on the son's lack of focus on what is considered “productive” activity.
• Example 2:
  • 作为一名员工，最怕被老板认为是不求上进。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yī míng yuángōng, zuì pà bèi lǎobǎn rènwéi shì bùqiúshàngjìn.
  • English: As an employee, the biggest fear is to be considered unambitious by the boss.
  • Analysis: This highlights the negative consequences of this label in a professional context. Being seen as “不求上进” could harm your career prospects.
• Example 3:
  • 她觉得男朋友太不求上进了，对未来一点计划都没有，所以提出了分手。
  • Pinyin: Tā juédé nánpéngyǒu tài bùqiúshàngjìn le, duì wèilái yīdiǎn jìhuà dōu méiyǒu, suǒyǐ tíchūle fēnshǒu.
  • English: She felt her boyfriend was too unambitious and had no plans for the future, so she broke up with him.
  • Analysis: Shows how this attitude can be a deal-breaker in a serious relationship, where shared goals and progress are often expected.
• Example 4:
  • 你不能满足于现状，满足于现状就是不求上进的表现。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bùnéng mǎnzú yú xiànzhuàng, mǎnzú yú xiànzhuàng jiùshì bùqiúshàngjìn de biǎoxiàn.
  • English: You can't be content with the status quo; being content with the status quo is a sign of lacking ambition.
  • Analysis: This sentence explicitly links “being content” (满足于现状) with this negative term, illustrating the cultural difference mentioned earlier.
• Example 5:
  • 和他那些成功的兄弟比起来，他显得非常不求上进。
  • Pinyin: Hé tā nàxiē chénggōng de xiōngdì bǐ qǐlái, tā xiǎnde fēicháng bùqiúshàngjìn.
  • English: Compared to his successful brothers, he appears very unambitious.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how the term is often used in a comparative context, where one person's lack of drive is contrasted with others' success.
• Example 6:
  • 我承认我有点不求上进，我只想过安稳的生活。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ chéngrèn wǒ yǒudiǎn bùqiúshàngjìn, wǒ zhǐ xiǎng guò ānwěn de shēnghuó.
  • English: I admit I'm a bit unambitious; I just want to live a stable and peaceful life.
  • Analysis: An example of self-aware usage. The speaker is reframing the negative label as a positive desire for a simple life, though they still use the critical term itself.
• Example 7:
  • 公司的这种文化会使人变得不求上进。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī de zhè zhǒng wénhuà huì shǐ rén biànde bùqiúshàngjìn.
  • English: This kind of company culture can make people become unambitious.
  • Analysis: Here, the term is used to critique an environment rather than an individual. It suggests that a lack of opportunity or motivation at work can lead to this attitude.
• Example 8:
  • 年纪轻轻的，怎么能这么不求上进呢？
  • Pinyin: Niánjì qīngqīng de, zěnme néng zhème bùqiúshàngjìn ne?
  • English: You're so young, how can you be so lacking in ambition?
  • Analysis: A common rhetorical question used by elders to express shock and disappointment at a young person's attitude.
• Example 9:
  • 几次失败之后，他开始变得有些不求上进了。
  • Pinyin: Jǐ cì shībài zhīhòu, tā kāishǐ biànde yǒuxiē bùqiúshàngjìn le.
  • English: After a few failures, he started to become somewhat unambitious.
  • Analysis: This shows that “不求上进” can describe a change in a person's state of mind, often as a result of discouragement.
• Example 10:
  • 一个不求上进的人是很难取得成功的。
  • Pinyin: Yīgè bùqiúshàngjìn de rén shì hěn nán qǔdé chénggōng de.
  • English: An unambitious person will find it very difficult to achieve success.
  • Analysis: A general, almost proverbial statement that directly links this trait to a lack of success, reinforcing the cultural value.

• Not the same as “Relaxed”: A common mistake for learners is to equate “不求上进” with being “laid-back” or “easy-going” (随和, suíhe). “随和” is a positive trait describing someone who is agreeable and not stressed. “不求上进” is a negative judgment on one's character and drive. You can be laid-back and still very ambitious.
• It's a trait, not a temporary state: You wouldn't say someone is “不求上进” just because they are taking a vacation or a short break. The term implies a persistent attitude of complacency and an unwillingness to put in effort over the long term.
• “False Friend” with “Content”: In English, saying “I'm content with my life” is positive. In Chinese, the closest phrase is “知足常乐 (zhī zú cháng lè)”. However, if you try to justify a lack of effort by saying you are content, it will sound like an excuse for being “不求上进”. The context is crucial.

• 奋斗 (fèndòu) - To strive, to struggle for a goal. The direct antonym of the attitude described by 不求上进.
• 上进心 (shàngjìnxīn) - Ambition; the desire to improve. This is the noun for the quality that a 不求上进 person lacks.
• 躺平 (tǎng píng) - “Lying flat.” A recent slang term for rejecting the societal “rat race.” It's a modern, conscious choice that is often labeled by older generations as being 不求上进.
• 得过且过 (dé guò qiě guò) - To muddle along; to get by day-by-day without long-term plans. A very close synonym that emphasizes a passive approach to life.
• 安于现状 (ān yú xiàn zhuàng) - To be content with the current situation. This is a more neutral term, but can become negative if it implies stagnation, making it a softer version of 不求上进.
• 自暴自弃 (zì bào zì qì) - To abandon oneself to despair; to give up on oneself. This is much stronger and more desperate than 不求上进, which is more about passive complacency than active despair.
• 积极 (jījí) - Active, positive, proactive. A direct antonym.