不求有功，但求无过 bù qiú yǒu gōng ， dàn qiú wú guò

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. not aiming to achieve the best possible result, but rather trying to avoid making mistakes (idiom)
  2. fig. to take a risk-averse approach

CHARACTERS

不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
求 qiú
HSK 3
seek; demand, request; beseech
有 yǒu
HSK 1
have, own, possess; exist
功 gōng
HSK 4
achievement, merit, good result
但 dàn
HSK 2
only; but, however, yet, still
求 qiú
HSK 3
seek; demand, request; beseech
无 wú
HSK 4
negative, no, not; KangXi radical 71
过 guò
HSK 2
pass, pass through, go across