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.
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
The gain (得) does not (不) compensate (偿) the loss (失). 偿 is the word for repaying a debt, so the phrase sets the two sides of a ledger against each other and reports that the entry does not balance. What distinguishes it from simple failure is that something was in fact gained — the enterprise worked, and cost more than it returned. Pyrrhic victories, litigation won at ruinous expense, and overtime.
Examples
English: "Working excessive overtime earned more money but damaged his health"
Chinese: 过度加班赚取了更多钱，但损害了他的健康
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
患得患失
huàn dé huàn shī
Constantly anxious about gains and losses
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微不足道
wēi bù zú dào
Too slight to weigh at all
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急于求成
jí yú qiú chéng
Be impatient for success; rush things
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功成身退
gōng chéng shēn tuì
Retire after achieving success
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见好就收
jiàn hǎo jiù shōu
Quit while ahead; take profits
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适可而止
shì kě ér zhǐ
Stop at the right point; practice moderation
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当务之急
dāng wù zhī jí
Most urgent priority requiring immediate attention
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急功近利
jí gōng jìn lì
Seek quick success and immediate benefit
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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: Working excessive overtime earned more money but damaged his health
What is the pinyin for 得不偿失?
The pinyin pronunciation for 得不偿失 is “dé bù cháng shī”.