xu lợi
Definition
- Adjective:
- Self-interested / Mercenary: Describes a person whose actions are primarily motivated by personal gain or profit. It implies a calculating nature focused on material benefit.
- Utilitarian: In a broader sense, it can describe an attitude or approach that prioritizes usefulness and practical advantage, often with a connotation of selfishness.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Anh ta là người rất xu lợi, chỉ kết bạn với người giàu. (He is a very self-interested person, only making friends with the rich.)
- Cô ấy có cách nhìn xu lợi về hôn nhân. (She has a utilitarian view of marriage.)
- Đừng có xu lợi quá trong chuyện tình cảm. (Don't be so mercenary in matters of the heart.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in a disapproving or critical tone to highlight someone's lack of genuine feeling or principle, emphasizing their focus on tangible benefits.
Variants and Related Words
- Chủ nghĩa xu lợi (n): Utilitarianism (the ethical doctrine).
- Chủ nghĩa xu lợi tập trung vào kết quả tốt nhất cho số đông. (Utilitarianism focuses on the greatest good for the greatest number.)
Synonyms
- Self-seeking: Concerned primarily with one's own interests and benefits.
- Calculating: Acting in a scheming and selfish way.
- Opportunistic: Taking immediate advantage, often without regard for principles.
Related Idioms
- Làm việc xu lợi: To work only for personal gain.
- Hắn làm việc xu lợi, không bao giờ nghĩ đến đồng đội. (He works only for personal gain, never thinking of his teammates.)