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损人利己 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
损人利己sǔnrénlìjǐharming others for one's personal benefit (idiom); personal gain to the detriment of othersHSK 7, unknown, 22 strokes, rank #57063, Very Hard
sǔnrénlìjǐ(sun3ren2li4ji3)sun ren li ji T3
  1. 1harming others for one's personal benefit (idiom); personal gain to the detriment of others
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March 24, 2026

损人利己(損人利己)sǔnrénlìjǐ(sun3ren2li4ji3)

The idiom 损人利己 (sǔn rén lì jǐ) describes a behavior where one harms others to benefit oneself. It is often used to criticize selfish actions that disregard the well-being of others in pursuit of personal gain, emphasizing moral implications in social interactions.

Strokes22Frequency#57063DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of community and collective well-being is highly valued, making actions that 损人利己 particularly frowned upon. This idiom reflects the importance of harmony and mutual support in social relationships.

Memory tip

Imagine a person (人) standing on top of a pile of fallen comrades (损), smiling as they reap the benefits (利) all for themselves (己). The visual of someone climbing up while others fall captures the essence of this phrase.

Meanings of 损人利己

sǔnrénlìjǐ(sun3ren2li4ji3)
1harming others for one's personal benefit (idiom); personal gain to the detriment of others
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About 损人利己

损人利己Simplified
損人利己Traditional
22Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 损人利己

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using this idiom, as it carries a strong negative connotation. It is typically used in formal contexts, such as discussions of ethics in business or personal relationships. Avoid mixing it with positive expressions, as it solely reflects selfishness.

HSK Study Tips

Though not an HSK vocabulary item, understanding 损人利己 can enhance comprehension of HSK Level 5 texts where ethical dilemmas may arise. Focus on recognizing the context in which this idiom is used, especially in discussions of morality.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 损人利己 with more neutral phrases about competition. For example, saying '他在比赛中损人利己' (He is competing in the competition by harming others) misrepresents the competitive nature. A better sentence would be '他在比赛中非常自私' (He is very selfish in the competition).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 损人利己

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Idiom spotlight: 损人利己

Chengyu origin story
Literal meaning:harm person benefit self

Component characters

损sǔnto decrease
HSK 710 strokes扌
View full entry
人rénman
HSK 12 strokes人
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利lìsharp
HSK 67 strokes刂
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己jǐself
3 strokes己
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How to say harming others for one's personal benefit (idiom); personal gain to the detriment of others in Chinese

“harming others for one's personal benefit (idiom); personal gain to the detriment of others” in Chinese is损人利己sǔnrénlìjǐ

The idiom 损人利己 (sǔn rén lì jǐ) describes a behavior where one harms others to benefit oneself. It is often used to criticize selfish actions that disregard the well-being of others in pursuit of personal gain, emphasizing moral implications in social interactions.

When to use 损人利己

Be cautious when using this idiom, as it carries a strong negative connotation. It is typically used in formal contexts, such as discussions of ethics in business or personal relationships. Avoid mixing it with positive expressions, as it solely reflects selfishness.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 损人利己 with more neutral phrases about competition. For example, saying '他在比赛中损人利己' (He is competing in the competition by harming others) misrepresents the competitive nature. A better sentence would be '他在比赛中非常自私' (He is very selfish in the competition).

Write 损人利己

损
人
利
己

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Frequently asked questions about 损人利己

Not exactly. While competition can be healthy, 损人利己 implies that someone is actively harming others for their own gain, which is a stronger moral judgment.

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