Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Self-seeking, mercenary: Describes a person, action, or motive that is primarily concerned with gaining personal profit or advantage.
   • Calculating, interested: Characterized by a focus on one's own benefit, often with a lack of genuine or altruistic concern for others.

2. Verb (less common):

   • To seek profit, to act for gain: To engage in an activity with the main purpose of obtaining personal benefit.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Anh ta là một con người vụ lợi. (He is a self-seeking person.)
  • Động cơ của họ hoàn toàn vụ lợi. (Their motives are entirely mercenary.)
  • Một món quà không vụ lợi. (A disinterested gift.)

• Verb:

  • Hắn chỉ biết vụ lợi trong mọi giao dịch. (He only knows how to seek profit in every transaction.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often carries a strong negative moral judgment, implying selfishness, opportunism, or a lack of principles.
• It is frequently used to criticize behavior in business, politics, or personal relationships where personal gain is prioritized over ethics or the common good.

Variants and Related Words

• Vụ lợi cá nhân (n): Personal gain, self-interest.

  • Hành động xuất phát từ vụ lợi cá nhân. (Action stemming from personal gain.)

• Tính vụ lợi (n): Mercenary nature, self-interestedness.

  • Tính vụ lợi đang lan tràn trong xã hội. (Mercenary behavior is spreading in society.)

Synonyms

• Self-interested: Concerned primarily with one's own personal profit or pleasure.
• Mercenary: Motivated solely by a desire for monetary or material gain.
• Calculating: Acting in a scheming and ruthlessly selfish way.
• Opportunistic: Exploiting immediate opportunities, especially for personal gain.

Antonyms

• Vô tư, không vụ lợi: Disinterested, unselfish.
• Vị tha: Altruistic.
• Hào hiệp: Magnanimous, generous.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• Lòng tham vụ lợi: Avaricious, profit-seeking greed.

  • Lòng tham vụ lợi đã làm hắn mù quáng. (Profit-seeking greed has blinded him.)

• Hành động vụ lợi: A self-serving action.

  • Mọi hành động vụ lợi cuối cùng sẽ bị lật tẩy. (All self-serving actions will eventually be exposed.)

verb

1. to look for gain, self seeking