无功不受禄
“No merit, no reward.”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
可入得了太傅法眼？
“I wonder if you like it.”
无功不受禄
“No merit, no reward.”
殿下这礼
“I'm not worthy”
“I cannot take this bribe and compromise my principles.”
Refusing unsolicited or disproportionate rewards reflects the traditional Confucian ideal of official rectitude to avoid becoming politically beholden.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
no reward without merit / not accepting unearned gifts
A classic set phrase used when declining gifts, favors, or hospitality to maintain propriety and independence.
VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS
Parallel Spoken Cinema Scenes (语义近邻切片)
“As the saying goes, one should not accept rewards without merit.”
“nothing comes for free.”
“Unearned gifts come with a price.”
“But we've done nothing.”
“I've done nothing to deserve it.”