不择手段

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: bù zé shǒu duàn
• English Translation: By any means necessary (unscrupulous)
• Idiom Composition: 「不」（Not or no (negation)）＋「择」（To choose or select）＋「手」（Hand (referring to a technique or skill in this context)）＋「段」（Step or section (referring to a procedure or method in this context)）
• Meaning: To use any method, including immoral, illegal, or dishonest ones, to achieve a goal. It is a strongly derogatory term used to criticize a lack of ethics or a 'the end justifies the means' mentality.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「不择手段」 contains the following nuances:

• Lack of Morality: The core of this idiom is the willingness to use betrayal, lies, or violence. It does not mean 'working hard' or 'being resourceful' in a positive sense.
• Results-Only Mentality: It refers to an attitude where the final goal is the only thing that matters, completely disregarding the ethics of the process.

3. Usage

「不择手段」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Describing Villains or Criminals: Commonly used in literature, movies, or news to criticize individuals who sacrifice others for their own gain.
  • Example:「为了夺取公司的控制权，他不择手段地陷害竞争对手。」
    （To seize control of the company, he resorted to unscrupulous tactics to frame his rivals.）
• Political or Competitive Conflict: Used to accuse an opponent of using 'dirty' tricks or cheating during an election or intense business competition.
  • Example:「有些政客为了赢得选票，简直是不择手段。」
    （Some politicians will do anything, no matter how dirty, just to win votes.）
• Warnings and Moral Lessons: Used as a cautionary phrase to remind others that success should not come at the cost of one's integrity.
  • Example:「我们追求成功，但绝不能不择手段。」
    （We pursue success, but we must never stoop to unscrupulous means.）

Additional Examples:

1. 那个犯罪团伙为了敛财不择手段，甚至伤害无辜。
   （That criminal gang stops at nothing to extort money, even hurting innocent people.）
2. 他不择手段地往上爬，最终虽然得到了地位，却失去了朋友。
   （He used every dirty trick in the book to climb the corporate ladder; he gained status but lost his friends.）
3. 真正的英雄是靠实力取胜，而不是靠不择手段。
   （A true hero wins through strength, not by resorting to unscrupulous methods.）
4. 为了掩盖真相，他们不择手段地销毁了所有证据。
   （To cover up the truth, they used any means necessary to destroy all the evidence.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Usage Warning: This is a very strong derogatory term. Using it to describe a friend's hard work would be taken as a serious insult to their character. For positive effort, use terms like 全力以赴 (quán lì yǐ fù) instead.
• Machiavellianism: In Chinese discourse, 不择手段 (bù zé shǒu duàn) is the standard way to critically describe the philosophy that 'the end justifies the means.'

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 弄虚作假 (nòng xū zuò jiǎ): To practice fraud or deceive people through lies and falsification.link
  • 营私舞弊 (yíng sī wǔ bì): To engage in malpractice or fraud for personal gain.
  • 投机取巧 (tóu jī qǔ qiǎo): To seize an opportunity for one's own advantage, often by clever but unethical means.link
  • 损人利己 (sǔn rén lì jǐ): To harm others to benefit oneself.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 光明正大 (guāng míng zhèng dà): To be open, honest, and aboveboard in one's actions.
  • 循规蹈矩 (xún guī dǎo jǔ): To follow rules and conventions strictly and behave properly.
  • 光明磊落 (guāng míng lěi luò): To be open and aboveboard in one's actions and character.link
  • 实事求是 (shí shì qiú shì): Seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic.link

6. Summary

The idiom 不择手段 (bù zé shǒu duàn) describes a ruthless approach where a person ignores morality and law to get what they want. While the English phrase 'by any means necessary' can sometimes sound determined or even heroic, this Chinese idiom is strictly negative and is used to condemn villainous or unethical behavior. It should never be used to describe honest hard work.