见钱眼开

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: jiàn qián yǎn kāi
• English Translation: Eyes opening wide at the sight of money (to be blinded by greed)
• Idiom Composition: 「见」（To see or catch sight of）＋「钱」（Money or wealth）＋「眼」（Eyes）＋「开」（To open (specifically, to open wide in excitement)）
• Meaning: To have one's eyes light up or open wide the moment money is seen. It describes an extreme greed where a person is willing to change their attitude or abandon their principles for financial gain.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「见钱眼开」 contains the following nuances:

• Blatant Greed: The idiom emphasizes a lack of class where desire is so strong it manifests physically as a wide-eyed stare, showing that the person has no self-control when it comes to profit.
• Sudden Change in Attitude: It often implies a 'before and after' scenario: a person might be cold or indifferent until money is mentioned, at which point they suddenly become helpful or overly friendly.

3. Usage

「见钱眼开」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Criticizing Character: Used to describe someone who is untrustworthy and will do anything, even illegal acts, for money.
  • Example:「那个老板是个见钱眼开的人，只要给钱，什么违规的事都敢做。」
    （That boss is the type of person who is blinded by greed; as long as you pay him, he'll dare to do anything illegal.）
• Business and Negotiations: Describes situations where a party breaks a promise or raises prices greedily upon seeing a high demand.
  • Example:「房东见钱眼开，看我们要租的人多，突然又要涨房租。」
    （The landlord got greedy at the sight of money; seeing how many people wanted to rent, he suddenly tried to raise the rent again.）
• Defensive Use: Used in the negative to emphasize that a person is honorable and cannot be bought.
  • Example:「他虽然穷，但绝不是见钱眼开的人，不会接受这笔不义之财。」
    （Although he is poor, he is by no means someone who is dazzled by money, so he won't accept this ill-gotten wealth.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这种见钱眼开的朋友，不交也罢。
   （It is better not to befriend someone who is so money-grubbing.）
2. 别以为所有人都见钱眼开，这世上还有比钱更重要的东西。
   （Don't think everyone is blinded by money; there are things in this world more important than wealth.）
3. 由于某些官员见钱眼开，导致这个工程充满了隐患。
   （Because some officials were blinded by greed, this project has become full of hidden dangers.）
4. 他讽刺那些见钱眼开的亲戚，只有在他发财时才来往。
   （He mocked those mercenary relatives who only visited him once he became wealthy.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• This idiom appears in classic literature such as the Ming Dynasty novel The Golden Lotus (金瓶梅) and the Qing Dynasty's Officialdom Unmasked (官场现形记). It has long been used to criticize the corrupt nature of officials and the unscrupulous behavior of certain merchants.
• The expression 'eyes opening' (眼开) depicts a comical yet pathetic physiological response. It suggests that a person who was previously 'asleep' or indifferent suddenly becomes alert and animated the moment they see a chance to make money.
• While the term 拜金主义 (bài jīn zhǔ yì) refers to the general ideology of 'money worship' or 'materialism,' 见钱眼开 (jiàn qián yǎn kāi) is more specific, describing a person's immediate, visceral reaction or a specific character flaw.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 见利忘义 (jiàn lì wàng yì): To forget one's principles or righteousness the moment one sees a chance for profit.
  • 财迷心窍 (cái mí xīn qiào): To be so obsessed with wealth that one loses their sanity or judgment.
  • 损人利己 (sǔn rén lì jǐ): To harm others to benefit oneself.link
  • 自私自利 (zì sī zì lì): To be selfish and only care about one's own benefit.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 见利思义 (jiàn lì sī yì): To think of righteousness and whether a gain is moral before accepting it.
  • 视金钱如粪土 (shì jīn qián rú fèn tǔ): To regard money as if it were dirt; to be completely indifferent to wealth.
  • 大公无私 (dà gōng wú sī): To be completely fair and unselfish.link
  • 光明磊落 (guāng míng lěi luò): To be open and aboveboard in one's actions and character.link

6. Summary

见钱眼开 (jiàn qián yǎn kāi) is a derogatory idiom used to criticize greedy and shallow individuals. It doesn't just mean someone likes money; it emphasizes a lack of integrity, suggesting the person is untrustworthy because their behavior is dictated entirely by the prospect of profit.