半途而废
半途而废 (bàn tú ér fèi) literally means “abandon halfway through journey” and expresses “quitting before completion”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: ban tu er fei, ban tu er fei,半途而废 meaning, 半途而废 in english
Quitting before completion
Pronunciation: bàn tú ér fèi Literal meaning: Abandon halfway through journey
Origin & Usage
This unfinished idiom describes abandoning (废) a journey midway (半途), originating from Han Dynasty Confucian texts on perseverance. It first appeared in discussions about moral cultivation, emphasizing the importance of completing what one begins. During the Tang Dynasty, it gained prominence in educational contexts, where scholars used it to encourage students through difficult periods of study. The specific imagery of a half-completed journey resonated deeply in Chinese culture, where pilgrimages and scholarly travel often involved considerable hardship. Modern usage criticizes giving up before completion, particularly after significant investment of time and effort, suggesting that abandoning endeavors midway wastes both previous effort and potential achievement.
Examples
English: "After months of training, she quit just weeks before the competition"
Chinese: 经过数月的训练，她在比赛前几周就放弃了
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 半途而废 mean in English?
半途而废 (bàn tú ér fèi) literally translates to “Abandon halfway through journey” and is used to express “Quitting before completion”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 半途而废 used?
Situation: After months of training, she quit just weeks before the competition
What is the pinyin for 半途而废?
The pinyin pronunciation for 半途而废 is “bàn tú ér fèi”.
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