无功不受禄

无功不受禄:

Literally means:

decline an undeserved reward

Actually means:

禄 refers to the salary of officials in ancient China.

This phrase means that one refuses to accept an un deserved reward because one has made no due contribution.

It is usually used to indicate that one reuses to accept a favor or benefit offered by someone else, or used as a polite expression to show one's gratitude or reluctance to accept a gift.

禄，中国古代官员的薪水。

无功不受禄，没有功劳的话就不接受报酬。

多用来表示不愿意接受别人给的好处。也用作辞谢或推让送礼的客套话。