杀鸡取卵
杀鸡取卵 (shā jī qǔ luǎn) literally means “kill chicken take eggs” and expresses “sacrifice long-term benefits for short-term gains”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: sha ji qu luan, sha ji qu luan,杀鸡取卵 meaning, 杀鸡取卵 in english
Sacrifice long-term benefits for short-term gains
Pronunciation: shā jī qǔ luǎn Literal meaning: Kill chicken take eggs
Origin & Usage
This idiom originated from Han Dynasty agricultural maxims, first appearing in economic discussions warning against sacrificing productive assets for immediate returns. During the Song Dynasty, it gained prominence in governmental policy debates about sustainable taxation. The metaphor of killing a hen (杀鸡) to extract all its eggs (取卵) at once was particularly instructive—hens produce eggs continuously when properly maintained, making their slaughter for a single collection catastrophically inefficient. Unlike terms simply meaning 'wasteful,' it specifically criticizes destroying sustainable income sources for immediate gain. Modern usage spans business practices to environmental policy, describing fundamentally unsustainable strategies that prioritize immediate returns over system preservation, particularly when apparently successful short-term results mask inevitable long-term collapse.
When to Use
Situation: The company maximized short-term profits by cutting essential research funding
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 杀鸡取卵 mean in English?
杀鸡取卵 (shā jī qǔ luǎn) literally translates to “Kill chicken take eggs” and is used to express “Sacrifice long-term benefits for short-term gains”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 杀鸡取卵 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving sacrifice long-term benefits for short-term gains.
What is the pinyin for 杀鸡取卵?
The pinyin pronunciation for 杀鸡取卵 is “shā jī qǔ luǎn”.