yǐquánmóusī: 以权谋私 - To Abuse Power for Personal Gain

• Keywords: 以权谋私, yi quan mou si, abuse of power in Chinese, Chinese corruption, Chinese idiom for graft, using authority for personal gain, abuse of office, Chinese chengyu, self-serving officials.
• Summary: “以权谋私” (yǐ quán móu sī) is a fundamental Chinese idiom (chengyu) that means “to abuse power for personal gain.” This term is central to discussions about corruption, graft, and the ethics of authority in China. It describes any act where someone in a position of power, from a government official to a company manager, leverages their authority to secure benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. Understanding “以权谋私” is key to comprehending Chinese news, social commentary, and the government's anti-corruption campaigns.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yǐ quán móu sī
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (四字成语), often used as a verb phrase.
• HSK Level: N/A (Advanced vocabulary, commonly seen in HSK 6+ materials and news).
• Concise Definition: To use one's position of power to seek private or personal benefits.
• In a Nutshell: This is the classic Chinese term for corruption. Imagine a government official who gives a construction contract to his brother's company, or a manager who only promotes their friends. They are “using their power (以权) to plot for private gain (谋私).” It carries a very strong negative and morally condemnatory tone.

• 以 (yǐ): A preposition meaning “to use,” “by means of,” or “with.” It sets up the tool or method being used.
• 权 (quán): Power, authority, right. This refers to the official capacity or influence someone holds.
• 谋 (móu): To seek, to plot, to scheme for. It implies a conscious and deliberate action.
• 私 (sī): Private, personal, selfish. This is the opposite of 公 (gōng), which means “public” or “for the common good.”

Putting it together, the idiom literally translates to “To use (以) power (权) to seek (谋) private gain (私).” The meaning is built directly and transparently from its components.

“以权谋私” is more than just a legal term; it's a deep-seated moral concept in Chinese culture. For centuries, the ideal official in Confucian philosophy was the “dà gōng wú sī” (大公无私) individual—one who is entirely selfless and devoted to the public good. “以权谋私” is the direct and shameful antithesis to this ideal.

• Comparison to Western Concepts: In the West, one might say “abuse of power,” “graft,” or “conflict of interest.” These terms are often seen through a legal or procedural lens. While “以权谋私” certainly has legal implications, its primary weight in Chinese culture is as a moral failing. Accusing someone of “以权谋私” is to condemn their character as fundamentally selfish and neglectful of their duty to the group, the company, or the nation. It violates the core social expectation that those with authority have a responsibility to the collective.
• Anti-Corruption Campaigns: This phrase is a cornerstone of government rhetoric in China. Anti-corruption campaigns (反腐运动, fǎnfǔ yùndòng) are framed as a fight to root out officials who “以权谋私.” The term appears constantly in state media, official announcements, and public discourse, reinforcing its significance as a major social and political issue.

This term is formal and carries a serious tone. It's not used lightly.

• In the News and Politics: This is its most common habitat. News reports on fallen officials, government circulars, and political speeches are filled with this phrase. It is the standard, official term for this type of corruption.
• In Business: It's used to describe unethical behavior within a company. A manager who uses the company budget for lavish personal expenses or a purchasing director who accepts kickbacks from suppliers is engaging in “以权谋私”.
• In Conversation: While formal, people use it in conversation to express strong disapproval. If a friend complains that their boss gave an undeserved promotion to a relative, they might say, “他这是以权谋私！” (He's abusing his power for personal gain!). Using this chengyu immediately elevates the criticism from a simple complaint to a serious moral accusation.

The connotation is always highly negative. There is no neutral or positive way to use this term.

• Example 1:
  • 这位官员因以权谋私而受到调查。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi guānyuán yīn yǐ quán móu sī ér shòudào diàochá.
  • English: This official is under investigation for abusing his power for personal gain.
  • Analysis: A typical sentence from a news report. It's formal, direct, and states the reason for the investigation.
• Example 2:
  • 政府必须严厉打击任何以权谋私的行为。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ bìxū yánlì dǎjī rènhé yǐ quán móu sī de xíngwéi.
  • English: The government must severely crack down on any acts of abusing power for personal gain.
  • Analysis: Here, “以权谋私” is used to modify the noun “行为” (xíngwéi, behavior/acts), functioning like an adjective. This is a common structure in official statements.
• Example 3:
  • 他被指控利用职务之便以权谋私，为自己的公司牟利。
  • Pinyin: Tā bèi zhǐkòng lìyòng zhíwù zhī biàn yǐ quán móu sī, wèi zìjǐ de gōngsī móulì.
  • English: He was accused of taking advantage of his position to abuse his power for personal gain, profiting his own company.
  • Analysis: This example shows “以权谋私” alongside a similar phrase, “利用职务之便” (lìyòng zhíwù zhī biàn), which means “to use the convenience of one's post.” They often appear together to add detail.
• Example 4:
  • 作为领导，你绝不能以权谋私，要做到公平公正。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi lǐngdǎo, nǐ jué bùnéng yǐ quán móu sī, yào zuòdào gōngpíng gōngzhèng.
  • English: As a leader, you must never abuse your power for personal gain; you have to be fair and just.
  • Analysis: A sentence of warning or advice. It positions “以权谋私” as the direct opposite of fairness (公平公正).
• Example 5:
  • 以权谋私是社会的一大毒瘤，必须彻底根除。
  • Pinyin: Yǐ quán móu sī shì shèhuì de yī dà dúliú, bìxū chèdǐ gēnchú.
  • English: Abusing power for personal gain is a major cancer in society and must be completely eradicated.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, the entire four-character phrase acts as the subject noun. This is common for chengyu, treating the concept itself as a thing.
• Example 6:
  • 公司的审计发现了几个经理以权谋私的证据。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī de shěnjì fāxiàn le jǐ ge jīnglǐ yǐ quán móu sī de zhèngjù.
  • English: The company's audit discovered evidence of several managers abusing their power for personal gain.
  • Analysis: A practical example from a corporate context, showing its relevance beyond government.
• Example 7:
  • 他只是个小组长，就开始以权谋私，把轻松的活儿都分给他朋友。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhǐshì ge xiǎozǔzhǎng, jiù kāishǐ yǐ quán móu sī, bǎ qīngsōng de huó'r dōu fēn gěi tā péngyou.
  • English: He's just a team leader and he's already started abusing his authority for personal gain, assigning all the easy tasks to his friends.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how the term can be applied to even low-level positions of authority. The “power” (权) doesn't have to be immense.
• Example 8:
  • 我们如何才能有效地监督，防止干部以权谋私？
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen rúhé cáinéng yǒuxiào de jiāndū, fángzhǐ gànbù yǐ quán móu sī?
  • English: How can we effectively supervise and prevent cadres from abusing their power for personal gain?
  • Analysis: A typical question found in policy discussions or academic articles about governance.
• Example 9:
  • 他的倒台是因为他多年来一直在以权谋私。
  • Pinyin: Tā de dǎotái shì yīnwèi tā duōnián lái yīzhí zài yǐ quán móu sī.
  • English: His downfall was because he had been abusing his power for personal gain for many years.
  • Analysis: The structure “一直在” (yīzhí zài) + verb shows a continuous, ongoing action in the past.
• Example 10:
  • 无论职位高低，任何以权谋私的行为都将受到法律的制裁。
  • Pinyin: Wúlùn zhíwèi gāodī, rènhé yǐ quán móu sī de xíngwéi dōu jiāng shòudào fǎlǜ de zhìcái.
  • English: Regardless of the rank of one's position, any act of abusing power for personal gain will be met with legal sanctions.
  • Analysis: A strong, formal statement emphasizing the universal applicability of the law against this crime.

• It Requires a Position of Power: This is the most common mistake for learners. You cannot use “以权谋私” to describe a regular person being selfish. For instance, if someone cuts in line, they are being selfish (自私, zìsī) or rude, but they are not “以权谋私” because they have no authority to abuse. The term is exclusively for someone leveraging a formal or informal position of authority.
  • Incorrect: ~~我的朋友很以权谋私，他吃了我最后一块饼干。~~ (My friend is very “yi quan mou si”, he ate my last cookie.)
  • Correct: 我的朋友很自私，他吃了我最后一块饼干。 (My friend is very selfish, he ate my last cookie.)
• Not Just About Money: While often involving money (graft, embezzlement), “以权谋私” can describe any abuse of power for personal benefit. This includes giving jobs to unqualified relatives (nepotism), assigning favorable work to friends, or using official resources (like a company car) for a personal vacation.
• Formal Tone: While it can be used in informal complaints, remember that it is a formal chengyu. Using it instantly makes the conversation more serious. For a very minor abuse of power, a friend might use a more colloquial phrase like “他利用职权占小便宜” (tā lìyòng zhíquán zhàn xiǎo piányi - “He's using his authority to gain a small advantage”).

• 腐败 (fǔbài) - Corruption. This is the general, modern term. “以权谋私” is a specific type and expression of 腐败.
• 贪污 (tānwū) - Embezzlement; graft. Specifically refers to the illegal acquisition of money or property entrusted to one's care. It's a very common form of 以权谋私.
• 受贿 (shòuhuì) - To accept a bribe. This is the act of receiving the bribe, which is a key mechanism for 以权谋私.
• 滥用职权 (lànyòng zhíquán) - Abuse of official power. A very close synonym and a more modern, legalistic term. “以权谋私” has a more classical and moral flavor.
• 大公无私 (dà gōng wú sī) - To be selfless and devoted to public interests. This is the direct antonym and the ideal that 以权谋私 violates.
• 徇私舞弊 (xùn sī wǔ bì) - To bend the law and engage in fraud for personal gain. Similar to 以权谋私, but with a stronger emphasis on the deceit and fraudulent methods used.
• 权力 (quánlì) - Power, authority. The “权” in 以权谋私 comes from this word.
• 官官相护 (guān guān xiāng hù) - “Officials protect each other.” An idiom describing the cronyism that often enables and protects those who 以权谋私.
• 走后门 (zǒu hòumén) - “To go through the back door.” A colloquial term for using personal connections (guanxi) to circumvent rules, a common, lower-level form of 以权谋私.