All Idioms
IntermediateChinese Idiom (成语)

不劳而获

bù láo ér huò

“To gain without working”

Meaning: To reap without sowing; to gain benefits without putting in effort; to get something for nothing

Character-by-Character Breakdown

bù
不
not / no
HSK 1
láo
劳
labor / to work
HSK 4
ér
而
and / but
HSK 3
huò
获
to obtain / to gain
HSK 5

The Story Behind 不劳而获

Source:《论语》
Period:Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BCE)

Gaining Without Effort

The idiom 不劳而获 comes from Confucian philosophy, particularly from "The Analects" (论语).

It emphasizes the moral principle that one should not gain benefits without putting in effort.

The phrase teaches that legitimate gains come from hard work, not from taking advantage of others or relying on luck.

It reflects the Confucian value of diligence and the belief that rewards should match effort.

Original Classical Chinese

不劳而获，非君子也。

How to Use 不劳而获

This idiom is used to criticize gaining benefits without working or putting in effort.

It emphasizes the moral problem of getting something for nothing or reaping without sowing.

The idiom is often used to point out unfairness or to warn against expecting rewards without effort.

When to use:
  • Use when criticizing someone who expects to gain without working
  • Often used to emphasize that success requires effort
  • Can be used as a warning against unrealistic expectations
Common Mistake

Don't confuse this with receiving help or support. It specifically refers to gaining benefits without putting in any effort yourself, emphasizing the moral problem of expecting rewards without work.

Example Sentences

1

他不想工作，只想不劳而获，靠别人的帮助生活。

Tā bùxiǎng gōngzuò, zhǐ xiǎng bù láo ér huò, kào biérén de bāngzhù shēnghuó.

He doesn't want to work, he just wants to gain without working, living off others' help.

2

学习没有捷径，不能指望不劳而获。

Xuéxí méiyǒu jiéjìng, bù néng zhǐwàng bù láo ér huò.

There's no shortcut in learning. You can't expect to gain without working.

3

成功需要努力，不劳而获是不可能的。

Chénggōng xūyào nǔlì, bù láo ér huò shì bù kěnéng de.

Success requires effort. Gaining without working is impossible.

Practice Writing

Generate a free printable worksheet with all 4 characters from this idiom.

Generate Worksheet (4 Characters)

Or explore each character:

不stroke order劳stroke order而stroke order获stroke order

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 不劳而获 (bù láo ér huò) mean?

不劳而获 literally means "to gain without working" or "to reap without sowing." Figuratively, it means to gain benefits without putting in effort, to get something for nothing. It criticizes the moral problem of expecting rewards without work.

What is the difference between 不劳而获 and 坐享其成?

Both idioms criticize gaining without working, but 不劳而获 emphasizes the general principle of gaining without effort, while 坐享其成 specifically refers to enjoying the fruits of others' labor. 不劳而获 is more general, 坐享其成 is more specific about benefiting from others.

How do you use 不劳而获 in a sentence?

Use 不劳而获 when criticizing someone who expects to gain without working. For example: "成功需要努力，不能指望不劳而获" (Success requires effort, you can't expect to gain without working).

Is 不劳而获 always negative?

Yes, 不劳而获 has a negative connotation. It's used to criticize the moral problem of expecting to gain benefits without putting in effort. It emphasizes that legitimate gains come from work.

Is 不劳而获 difficult to learn?

不劳而获 is considered intermediate level. It uses characters of varying difficulty (不 HSK1, 劳 HSK4, 而 HSK3, 获 HSK5). The concept is clear and the idiom is commonly used in modern Chinese.