生財有道

Chinese
to make a fortune
 
to have; there is; there are
to have; there is; there are; to exist; to be
 
direction; way; method
direction; way; method; road; path; principle; truth; reason; skill; Tao (of Taoism); a measure word; to say; to speak; to talk
trad. (生財有道) 生財 有 道
simp. (生财有道) 生财 有 道

Etymology

From the Great Learning in the Book of Rites:

生財有大道，生之者眾，食之者寡，為之者疾，用之者舒，則財恆足矣。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
生财有大道，生之者众，食之者寡，为之者疾，用之者舒，则财恒足矣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4th – 2nd century BCE
Shēngcái yǒu dàdào, shēngzhī zhě zhòng, shízhī zhě guǎ, wéizhī zhě jí, yòngzhī zhě shū, zé cái héng zú yǐ. [Pinyin]
There's an important method of making money: there should be many people who make money; there should be few peopele who have the money; people who engage in making money should be eager; peopele who use the money should be thrifty. Then there will be enough money forever.

Pronunciation

Idiom

生財有道

  1. (sometimes derogatory) to be expert in making money; to have the knack of making money
    • 生財有道，受用無由。 [Ci, trad.]
      生财有道，受用无由。 [Ci, simp.]
      From: Yuan dynasty, 錢霖,《般涉調·哨遍·看錢奴》
      Shēngcáiyǒudào, Shòuyòngwúyóu. [Pinyin]
      [They] are expert in making money,
      [But they] can't enjoy [their] money.

See also
  • 生財之道／生财之道
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