to gain profit (by underhand means) / to exploit / see also 謀取|谋取[mou2 qu3]
利诱
lì yòu
to use gain as a lure
敲开
qiāo kāi
to get sth open by tapping or striking it / (figuratively, when followed by sth like ∼的大門|∼的大门[xx5 de5 da4 men2]) to open the door to ~ / to gain access to ~
换证
huàn zhèng
to renew a certificate (ID card etc) / to leave an ID at the desk to gain entrance
strike first and gain the upper hand (idiom, martial arts term) / Making the first move is an advantage.
浑水摸鱼
hún shuǐ mō yú
to fish in troubled water (idiom) / to take advantage of a crisis for personal gain
混水摸鱼
hún shuǐ mō yú
to fish in troubled water (idiom) / to take advantage of a crisis for personal gain / also written 渾水摸魚|浑水摸鱼
不经一事不长一智
bù jīng yī shì bù zhǎng yī zhì
you can't gain knowledge without practice / wisdom comes from experience
不经一事
bù jīng yī shì
You can't gain knowledge without practical experience (idiom) / wisdom only comes with experience
升官发财
shēng guān fā cái
to be promoted and gain wealth (idiom)
见钱眼开
jiàn qián yǎn kāi
to open one's eyes wide at the sight of profit (idiom) / thinking of nothing but personal gain / money-grubbing
触斗蛮争
chù dòu mán zhēng
constant bickering and fighting (idiom) / constantly at each other's throats / struggle for personal gain
螳螂捕蝉
táng láng bǔ chán
the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子[Zhuang1 zi3]) / to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger
争名夺利
zhēng míng duó lì
to fight for fame, grab profit (idiom) / scrambling for fame and wealth / only interested in personal gain
捞油水
lāo yóu shuǐ
(coll.) to gain profit (usu. by underhand means)
不入虎穴焉得虎子
bù rù hǔ xué yān dé hǔ zǐ
how can you catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger's lair / nothing venture / nothing to gain or have
不劳无获
bù láo wú huò
no pain, no gain (idiom)
不经一事,不长一智
bù jīng yī shì , bù zhǎng yī zhì
you can't gain knowledge without practical experience (idiom) / wisdom only comes with experience
偷鸡不成蚀把米
tōu jī bù chéng shí bǎ mǐ
lit. to try to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice used to lure it (idiom) / fig. to try to gain an advantage only to end up worse off / to go for wool and come back shorn
利益输送
lì yì shū sòng
to make use of one's position to gain profit for oneself or one's associates
叫响
jiào xiǎng
to gain fame and success
失之东隅,收之桑榆
shī zhī dōng yú , shōu zhī sāng yú
to lose at sunrise but gain at sunset (idiom) / to compensate later for one's earlier loss / what you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts
浮利
fú lì
mere worldly, superficial gain, such as wealth and fame
the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子) / to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger
螳蜋捕蝉,黄雀在后
táng láng bǔ chán , huáng què zài hòu
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子) / to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger
讨便宜
tǎo pián yi
to look for a bargain / to seek advantage / to try to gain at expense of others
the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子[Zhuang1 zi3]) / to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger
有所得必有所失
yǒu suǒ dé bì yǒu suǒ shī
there is no gain without a loss (idiom) / there is no such thing as a free meal
考进
kǎo jìn
to gain entry by passing an exam / to be admitted to (a college etc)
吃得苦中苦,方为人上人
chī dé kǔ zhōng kǔ , fāng wéi rén shàng rén
one cannot achieve glory and wealth without having been through trials and tribulations (proverb) / no pain, no gain
师夷长技以制夷
shī yí cháng jì yǐ zhì yí
"learn from the foreigners in order to gain command of them", idea advocated by Wei Yuan 魏源[Wei4 Yuan2]
站稳脚步
zhàn wěn jiǎo bù
to gain a firm foothold / (fig.) to get oneself established
to value righteousness rather than material gain (idiom)
套磁
tào cí
(coll.) to cultivate good relations with sb / to try to gain favor with sb
肉烂在锅里
ròu làn zài guō lǐ
lit. the meat falls apart as it stews, but it all stays in the pot (idiom) / fig. some of us may lose or gain, but in any case the benefits don't go to outsiders