undeserved reward; unearned benefit
Literary or formal term for receiving a reward, salary, or benefit without having earned it. Often carries a negative connotation of unworthiness or idleness. Rare in everyday speech.
He was criticized as a person who receives an undeserved reward.
Those who receive an unearned salary should be ashamed.
neglecting duties while drawing pay; holding a sinecure
Rare kanji spelling; the second character 餐 is uncommon. The variant 素飡 is even rarer.
Variant kanji form; 飡 is an uncommon variant of 餐. Very rare in modern use.
A Sino-Japanese word from Classical Chinese 素餐, “to eat without earning one’s food,” hence to receive emoluments or rewards without deserving them.