得不偿失
得不偿失 (dé bù cháng shī) literally means “gain not compensate loss” and expresses “gains not worth the cost or sacrifice”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: de bu chang shi, de bu chang shi,得不偿失 meaning, 得不偿失 in english
Gains not worth the cost or sacrifice
Pronunciation: dé bù cháng shī Literal meaning: Gain not compensate loss
Origin & Usage
Han Dynasty agricultural texts first warned of gains (得) that don't compensate (不偿) for losses (失) when discussing soil depletion from over-farming. Tang Dynasty philosophers expanded it into a broader principle of cost-benefit analysis. The accounting metaphor proves particularly relevant today in evaluating everything from personal choices to policy decisions.
When to Use
Situation: Working excessive overtime earned more money but damaged his health
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
争分夺秒
zhēng fēn duó miǎo
Race against time; make every second count
Learn more →
恍然大悟
huǎng rán dà wù
Sudden complete understanding after confusion
Learn more →
邯郸学步
hán dān xué bù
Lose abilities through misguided imitation
Learn more →
归根到底
guī gēn dào dǐ
Fundamentally or in the final analysis
Learn more →
瓜田李下
guā tián lǐ xià
Avoid situations that invite suspicion
Learn more →
道听途说
dào tīng tú shuō
Unreliable information from casual hearsay
Learn more →
楚材晋用
chǔ cái jìn yòng
Recruit talent from rival organization
Learn more →
程门立雪
chéng mén lì xuě
Show profound respect and patience seeking wisdom
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 得不偿失 mean in English?
得不偿失 (dé bù cháng shī) literally translates to “Gain not compensate loss” and is used to express “Gains not worth the cost or sacrifice”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 得不偿失 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving gains not worth the cost or sacrifice.
What is the pinyin for 得不偿失?
The pinyin pronunciation for 得不偿失 is “dé bù cháng shī”.