损兵折将

Pronunciation: sǔn bīng zhé jiàng Literal meaning: Lose soldiers and generals

Origin & Usage

The idiom 损兵折将 (sǔn bīng zhé jiàng) is commonly used in classical Chinese to describe a situation where both soldiers (兵) and generals (将) suffer losses (损, zhé). It vividly paints the image of a military defeat where significant casualties occur among the ranks and leadership. Though the exact origin is not tied to a specific historical event, it first appeared in the Yuan dynasty play 《千里独行》. Over time, it has been used in various literary works, such as the Ming dynasty's 《水浒传》, to describe the aftermath of a failed military campaign. In modern usage, the idiom extends beyond military contexts to describe any scenario where significant losses are incurred, such as in business or sports competitions.

Examples

English: "The battle was costly, resulting in significant losses on both sides."

Chinese: 这场战斗损兵折将，损失惨重。