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不求有功，但求無過

简不求有功，但求无过 · 繁不求有功，但求無過

Mandarin · pinyin bù qiú yǒu gōng , dàn qiú wú guò

lit. not aiming to achieve the best possible result, but rather trying to avoid making mistakes (idiom)
fig. to take a risk-averse approach

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Characters in this entry

不: bù · no, not; un-; negative prefix
求: qiú · seek; demand, request; beseech
有: yǒu · have, own, possess; exist
功: gōng · achievement, merit, good result
但: dàn · only; but, however, yet, still
無: Look up this written character
過: guò · pass, pass through, go across
无: wú · negative, no, not; Kangxi radical 71
过: guò · pass, pass through, go across

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