DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

趨利避害

简趋利避害 · 繁趨利避害

Mandarin · pinyin qū lì bì hài

(idiom) to make the most of the benefits while avoiding adverse effects

Full entryShow on map

Characters in this entry

趨: Look up this written character
利: lì · gains, advantage, profit, merit
避: bì · avoid; turn aside; escape; hide
害: hài · injure, harm; destroy, kill
趋: qū · hasten, hurry; be attracted to

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

Explore the spelling

Mandarin tones

1–4–4–4 · qu1 li4 bi4 hai4

Compare attested words with these syllables ↗

Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.

Connected dictionary

4character links

Explore word families ↗Compare pronunciations ↗Open character structure ↗

Counts describe dictionary records, not word frequency or semantic similarity. Source identities stay separate.

Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

趨利避害 · find source passages ↗ · 趋利避害 · find source passages ↗

Explore Classical grammar ↗

Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

ceoi1 lei6 bei6 hoi6

Cantonese word readings for 趨利避害. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

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

phrase

(idiomatic) to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack