见利忘义 jiànlì-wàngyì to abandon moral principles in the pursuit of profit
(idiom) to abandon moral principles in the pursuit of profit
How to remember 见利忘义: 见 see + 利 benefit + 忘 forget + 义 right conduct = to abandon moral principles in the pursuit of profit.
Characters
How it is used
- To abandon principles for profit - 他见利忘义，出卖了朋友 (tā jiànlì-wàngyì, chūmài le péngyou) he ditched his morals for gain and betrayed his friend.
- Strongly condemnatory idiom about greed overriding loyalty and righteousness (义).
- Written/formal; a moral accusation.