Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== dé bù cháng shī: 得不偿失 - The gains do not make up for the losses ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** de bu chang shi, debuchangshi, 得不偿失, Chinese idiom for not worth it, Chinese proverb, gains don't outweigh losses, not worth the effort, pyrrhic victory meaning in Chinese, cost-benefit analysis, is it worth it in Chinese. * **Summary:** "得不偿失" (dé bù cháng shī) is a common and practical Chinese idiom (chengyu) used to describe a situation where the gains or benefits are completely outweighed by the costs, losses, or negative consequences. It's a powerful way to say an action is "not worth it" because it results in a net loss. This concept is crucial for understanding Chinese pragmatism in decision-making, from daily life to business strategy. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** dé bù cháng shī * **Part of Speech:** Idiom / Chengyu (成语) * **HSK Level:** HSK 6 * **Concise Definition:** The gains do not compensate for the losses. * **In a Nutshell:** Think of "得不偿失" as a verbal cost-benefit analysis that has already concluded the action is a bad idea. It's used to evaluate a decision or its outcome, pointing out that whatever you gained is insignificant compared to what you lost in the process. It carries a strong sense of warning, regret, or criticism about a shortsighted or ill-advised action. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **得 (dé):** To get, to obtain, to gain. * **不 (bù):** Not, no. * **偿 (cháng):** To compensate, to repay, to make up for. * **失 (shī):** To lose, a loss, a failure. When combined, the meaning is strikingly literal: "The gains (得) cannot (不) compensate for (偿) the losses (失)." Each character contributes directly to the idiom's overall meaning, making it a relatively easy chengyu for learners to deconstruct and remember. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== "得不偿失" reflects a core value of pragmatism and foresight in Chinese culture. It's not a lofty philosophical concept but a piece of practical, everyday wisdom. The idiom encourages individuals to think through the second and third-order consequences of their actions before committing to them. * **Comparison to Western Concepts:** While similar to English phrases like "the juice isn't worth the squeeze" or "the game isn't worth the candle," "得不偿失" is more formal and carries the weight of a well-established proverb. The closest serious concept is a **"Pyrrhic victory,"** where a victory is won at such a devastating cost that it is tantamount to defeat. However, "得不偿失" is broader. It can apply to any situation, not just a conflict or competition. For example, taking a high-paying but extremely stressful job that ruins your health could be described as "得不偿失," even though there was no "victory" involved. * **Related Values:** This idiom champions prudence (谨慎, jǐnshèn) and warns against greed or impulsiveness. It teaches that not every apparent "gain" is a true win if the hidden or long-term "losses" are too great. This mindset is visible in everything from family financial planning to national strategic policy. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== This idiom is widely used across various contexts due to its clear and universally applicable logic. * **In Business:** It's frequently used to evaluate business strategies. "如果我们为了节省这点成本而损害了品牌声誉，那就**得不偿失**了。" (If we damage our brand's reputation just to save this little bit of cost, it would not be worth it.) * **In Personal Advice:** Friends and family use it to warn each other against poor life choices. "为了报复他而浪费自己的时间，真的**得不偿失**。" (Wasting your own time just to get revenge on him is really not worth the loss.) * **On Social Media:** Netizens use it to comment on news stories, such as a company cutting corners and facing a huge scandal, or a person who commits a crime for a small amount of money and ends up in jail. * **Connotation & Formality:** The connotation is consistently negative, serving as a criticism or a warning. As a chengyu, it has a slightly educated and formal feel but is common enough to be understood and used in informal conversations without sounding pretentious. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 为了省几十块钱买一个假冒产品，结果用了一天就坏了，真是**得不偿失**。 * Pinyin: Wèi le shěng jǐ shí kuài qián mǎi yī ge jiǎmào chǎnpǐn, jiéguǒ yòng le yī tiān jiù huài le, zhēn shì **dé bù cháng shī**. * English: To save a few dozen RMB, I bought a counterfeit product, but it broke after just one day. The loss truly outweighed the gain. * Analysis: A classic example of a poor consumer decision. The small "gain" (saving money) was nullified by the larger "loss" (a useless product). * **Example 2:** * 他为了工作，长期熬夜，虽然升职了，但身体搞垮了，这完全是**得不偿失**。 * Pinyin: Tā wèi le gōngzuò, chángqī áoyè, suīrán shēngzhí le, dàn shēntǐ gǎo kuǎ le, zhè wánquán shì **dé bù cháng shī**. * English: He stayed up late for a long time for his job. Although he got a promotion, his health was ruined. This was completely not worth it. * Analysis: This sentence highlights a non-monetary trade-off. The "gain" is the promotion, but the "loss" of one's health is far greater. * **Example 3:** * 如果我们破坏环境来发展经济，最终会发现这是**得不偿失**的。 * Pinyin: Rúguǒ wǒmen pòhuài huánjìng lái fāzhǎn jīngjì, zuìzhōng huì fāxiàn zhè shì **dé bù cháng shī** de. * English: If we destroy the environment to develop the economy, we will eventually discover that the losses outweigh the gains. * Analysis: This demonstrates the idiom's use in a large-scale, societal context. Short-term economic "gain" comes at the cost of long-term environmental "loss." * **Example 4:** * 在考试中作弊或许能让你得到几分，但一旦被发现，你将面临被开除的风险，这太**得不偿失**了。 * Pinyin: Zài kǎoshì zhōng zuòbì huòxǔ néng ràng nǐ dédào jǐ fēn, dàn yīdàn bèi fāxiàn, nǐ jiāng miànlín bèi kāichú de fēngxiǎn, zhè tài **dé bù cháng shī** le. * English: Cheating on an exam might get you a few extra points, but once you're caught, you'll face the risk of expulsion. That's so not worth it. * Analysis: A perfect warning. It clearly lays out the small potential gain (a few points) versus the catastrophic potential loss (expulsion). * **Example 5:** * 公司花大价钱请了一个不合适的明星代言，不仅没提升销量，还损害了品牌形象，真是**得不偿失**。 * Pinyin: Gōngsī huā dà jiàqián qǐng le yī ge bù héshì de míngxīng dàiyán, bùjǐn méi tíshēng xiāoliàng, hái sǔnhài le pǐnpái xíngxiàng, zhēn shì **dé bù cháng shī**. * English: The company spent a fortune hiring an unsuitable celebrity endorser. Not only did sales not increase, but it also damaged the brand image. The losses truly outweighed the gains. * Analysis: This is a common business scenario where a significant investment (loss of money) leads to a negative outcome (loss of reputation), making the initial action a clear failure. * **Example 6:** * 你为了跟她赌气而放弃这个好机会，是不是有点**得不偿失**？ * Pinyin: Nǐ wèi le gēn tā dǔqì ér fàngqì zhè ge hǎo jīhuì, shì bu shì yǒudiǎn **dé bù cháng shī**? * English: Giving up such a good opportunity just to spite her, isn't that a case of the losses outweighing the gains? * Analysis: Here, the idiom is used in a rhetorical question to offer advice and make someone reconsider their emotional decision. The "gain" is fleeting emotional satisfaction, while the "loss" is a tangible opportunity. * **Example 7:** * 有些人为了减肥过度节食，结果营养不良，这种做法**得不偿失**。 * Pinyin: Yǒuxiē rén wèi le jiǎnféi guòdù jiéshí, jiéguǒ yíngyǎng bùliáng, zhè zhǒng zuòfǎ **dé bù cháng shī**. * English: Some people go on excessive diets to lose weight, resulting in malnutrition. This kind of method is not worth the cost. * Analysis: This illustrates a health-related context where the intended goal ("gain" of weight loss) is achieved through a method that causes a greater problem ("loss" of health). * **Example 8:** * 为了抄近路，他选择走一条危险的小道，结果车子坏了，比走大路还慢，**得不偿失**。 * Pinyin: Wèi le chāo jìnlù, tā xuǎnzé zǒu yī tiáo wēixiǎn de xiǎodào, jiéguǒ chēzi huài le, bǐ zǒu dàlù hái màn, **dé bù cháng shī**. * English: To take a shortcut, he chose a dangerous path, but his car broke down. He ended up being even slower than if he had taken the main road—the loss outweighed the gain. * Analysis: A simple, everyday example. The intended gain (saving time) resulted in a greater loss (a broken car and more time wasted). * **Example 9:** * 这项投资的回报率太低，风险又高，在我看来是**得不偿失**的。 * Pinyin: Zhè xiàng tóuzī de huíbào lǜ tài dī, fēngxiǎn yòu gāo, zài wǒ kànlái shì **dé bù cháng shī** de. * English: The return on this investment is too low and the risk is high. In my opinion, the potential gains don't justify the risks. * Analysis: Shows the idiom's use in finance and risk assessment. The potential "gain" (low return) is not enough to "compensate" for the potential "loss" (high risk). * **Example 10:** * 他认为，牺牲员工的幸福感来追求短期的利润是一种**得不偿失**的管理策略。 * Pinyin: Tā rènwéi, xīshēng yuángōng de xìngfú gǎn lái zhuīqiú duǎnqí de lìrùn shì yī zhǒng **dé bù cháng shī** de guǎnlǐ cèlüè. * English: He believes that sacrificing employee happiness to pursue short-term profits is a management strategy where the losses outweigh the gains. * Analysis: This sentence uses the idiom as a descriptor within a more complex structure, modifying "management strategy" (管理策略). It demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the term. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **Not for Minor Inconveniences:** Don't use "得不偿失" for trivial matters. If you wait 15 minutes for a bus that's a little crowded, it's an inconvenience, not "得不偿失". The term is reserved for situations where there is a significant and clear net loss. * **Distinction from "Wasted Effort":** It's more than just wasted effort. The idiom [[徒劳无功]] (tú láo wú gōng) means "to work in vain with no result." "得不偿失" is worse: you not only failed to achieve a meaningful result, but you also created a new problem or suffered a tangible loss. Cheating to get an F is wasted effort; cheating to get a few points but getting expelled is "得不偿失". * **"False Friend" with "Not Worth It":** While "not worth it" is a good starting translation, "得不偿失" is more analytical. It implies a direct comparison of a specific "得" (gain) and a specific "失" (loss). "Not worth it" can be a more general or emotional statement. "得不偿失" provides the reason //why// it's not worth it. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * **[[因小失大]] (yīn xiǎo shī dà):** "To lose the great for the small." A very close synonym that emphasizes losing something big (大) because of a focus on something small (小). * **[[一举两得]] (yī jǔ liǎng dé):** "One move, two gains" (to kill two birds with one stone). The direct and most famous antonym. * **[[事倍功半]] (shì bèi gōng bàn):** "Twice the work, half the result." Describes inefficiency, but not necessarily a net loss. The outcome is positive, just very small relative to the effort. * **[[徒劳无功]] (tú láo wú gōng):** "To work in vain with no result." Describes a situation where effort yields zero positive outcome. * **[[画蛇添足]] (huà shé tiān zú):** "To draw a snake and add feet." To ruin something by adding a superfluous element. The action creates a negative outcome from a previously neutral or positive state. * **[[划算]] (huásuàn):** Cost-effective; a good deal. A colloquial antonym used to describe something that //is// worth the cost or effort. * **[[物有所值]] (wù yǒu suǒ zhí):** "The object has its value" (worth the price). A common phrase and direct antonym when evaluating the value of a purchase or investment.