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bù 不 láo 劳 ér 而 huò 获

不劳而获 bù láo ér huò

to reap without sowing; to get something for nothing

Literally: not labour yet obtain

Intermediate 🧭 Character & virtue
🃏 Practise intermediate chengyu

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Origin

Descriptive; no single source story. The contrast between labour and reward is discussed in the Kongzi Jiayu and other classical texts.

How to use it

Predicate or attributive; negative. Often 想不劳而获 or 不劳而获的想法.

Example sentences

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  1. 世界上没有不劳而获的事，想成功就得努力。
    Shìjiè shàng méiyǒu bù láo ér huò de shì, xiǎng chénggōng jiù děi nǔlì.
    There's no such thing as something for nothing; if you want success you have to work.
    world on not-have not labour yet obtain (particle) matter, want succeed then must work-hard
  2. 他总想不劳而获，所以什么工作都做不长。
    Tā zǒng xiǎng bù láo ér huò, suǒyǐ shénme gōngzuò dōu zuò bù cháng.
    He always wants to reap without sowing, so he never lasts in any job.
    he always want not labour yet obtain, therefore what job all do not long

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