前功尽弃
前功尽弃 (qián gōng jìn qì) literally means “previous achievements abandoned” and expresses “efforts wasted”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: qian gong jin qi, qian gong jin qi,前功尽弃 meaning, 前功尽弃 in english
Efforts wasted
Pronunciation: qián gōng jìn qì Literal meaning: Previous achievements abandoned
Origin & Usage
The idiom 前功尽弃 (qián gōng jìn qì) originates from a historical context during the Warring States period, as recorded in the Western Han dynasty texts like 《战国策》 (Zhànguó Cè) and 《史记》 (Shǐjì). The story involves the Qin general Bai Qi, who was advised by Su Li to feign illness and retreat to avoid risking his previous achievements in a precarious battle. Bai Qi ignored this advice and continued his military campaign. The idiom literally means 'previous achievements are completely abandoned' (前, previous; 功, achievements; 尽, completely; 弃, abandon). It serves as a cautionary reminder to maintain perseverance and not to let past efforts go to waste by giving up prematurely. In modern usage, it describes situations where previous efforts are rendered futile due to a lack of persistence or a strategic misstep.
Examples
English: "After all the hard work, losing the final match felt like throwing everything away."
Chinese: 经过所有的努力，最后一场比赛的失利让人觉得前功尽弃。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 前功尽弃 mean in English?
前功尽弃 (qián gōng jìn qì) literally translates to “Previous achievements abandoned” and is used to express “Efforts wasted”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 前功尽弃 used?
Situation: After all the hard work, losing the final match felt like throwing everything away.
What is the pinyin for 前功尽弃?
The pinyin pronunciation for 前功尽弃 is “qián gōng jìn qì”.