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
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.
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
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”.