得不偿失(得不償失)
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 & learning.
Also searched as: de bu chang shi, de bu chang shi,得不偿失 meaning, 得不偿失 in english
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.
When to Use
Situation: Working excessive overtime earned more money but damaged his health
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Work with great ease; have complete mastery
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Be very familiar with; handle with expertise
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Quit while ahead; take profits
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Retire at the peak; know when to quit
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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 theWisdom & 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”.