gaa2 gung1 zai3 si1假公濟私假公济私
Jyutpinggaa2 gung1 zai3 si1
Yalegá gūng jai sī
Definition
To use public office or resources for private gain; to abuse one's official position for personal benefit.
colloquialworkmoney
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong negative connotation of corruption or unethical behavior in a professional setting. It is frequently used to criticize someone who exploits their authority or company resources for personal convenience or profit. Unlike more general terms for selfishness, this specifically implies a betrayal of trust regarding one's public or corporate role.
Examples
He is always using public office for private gain, buying his own stuff with company money.
Don't use your position for personal gain, this is an office space.
Related words
Common phrases
act in a way that uses public office for private gain
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
