DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

蠅營狗苟

简蝇营狗苟 · 繁蠅營狗苟

Mandarin · pinyin yíng yíng gǒu gǒu

(lit.) to swarm like flies around rotten food and drag out an ignoble existence like a dog (idiom)
(fig.) to lead an undignified life; to resort to any means for personal gain

Characters in this entry

蠅: Look up this written character
營: Look up this written character
狗: gǒu · dog, Canis familiaris
苟: gǒu · careless, frivolous; illicit; grammatical particle: if, but, if only; surname; grass name
蝇: yíng · flies
营: yíng · encampment, barracks; manage

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

2–2–3–3 · ying2 ying2 gou3 gou3

Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

(figuratively) to shamelessly seek personal gain; profit by ingratiating oneself with the rich