Translating 功利 into English | Generated by AI
Question: How can “功利” be expressed in English?
Answer:
The Chinese term 功利 generally refers to being pragmatic, utilitarian, or focused on personal gain. The exact translation depends on context:
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Utilitarian / utilitarianism – emphasizes practicality and usefulness, often in a neutral or philosophical sense.
- Example: “He has a utilitarian approach to life.”
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Pragmatic – emphasizes practical results over ideals.
- Example: “Her decisions are pragmatic rather than idealistic.”
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Self-interested / opportunistic – highlights personal gain, sometimes with a negative connotation.
- Example: “His motives were purely self-interested.”
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Calculating / materialistic – more critical, implies focusing on material or personal advantage over morals.
- Example: “She is very calculating in her career moves.”
So depending on whether you mean neutral practicality or morally questionable self-interest, you can choose pragmatic, utilitarian, or self-interested/opportunistic.