貪たん官かん汚お吏り

also: どんかんおり

Meanings

corrupt government official

A yojijukugo referring to officials who abuse their position for personal gain, often through bribery or embezzlement. Used in formal or critical contexts.

その政せい治じ家かは貪たん官かん汚お吏りとして告こく発はつされた。
The politician was accused of being a corrupt official.
歴れき史しには多おおくの貪たん官かん汚お吏りが登とう場じょうする。
Many corrupt officials appear in history.

Kanji

貪covet, indulge in
官bureaucrat, the government, organ
汚dirty, pollute, disgrace
吏officer, an official

Related words

汚お職しょく
汚職 refers to corruption in general, while 貪官汚吏 specifically denotes a corrupt official.
悪あく徳とく官かん僚りょう
悪徳官僚 is a more modern and direct term for a corrupt bureaucrat, whereas 貪官汚吏 is a classical yojijukugo with a literary feel.

Written forms

貪官汚吏
- たんかんおり
  Standard kanji form for this yojijukugo.
- どんかんおり
  Alternate reading; less common than たんかんおり.
どんかんおり

Etymology

A yojijukugo composed of 貪 (greedy), 官 (official), 汚 (dirty/corrupt), and 吏 (official). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it follows a common four-character pattern for describing corrupt governance.