諺語 · a single proverb
得不償失
Simplified: 得不偿失
What does 得不償失 (dé bù cháng shī) mean?
得不償失 (dé bù cháng shī) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "what is gained does not compensate for what is lost." In use it means: A victory that costs more than it is worth; winning the battle but losing the war. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Rooster.
Literally: "what is gained does not compensate for what is lost."
The reading
You won the argument and lost the friendship. You closed the deal and destroyed the team. You saved five minutes and created five hours of rework. Every gain has a price tag hidden on the back, and the person who checks the back before celebrating the front is the person who keeps their ledger balanced. Count all the costs, not just the visible ones.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Common classical expression; appears in various dynastic histories
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Wealth, Work & Diligence, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Rooster, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 得不償失 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 得不償失 (dé bù cháng shī) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Common classical expression; appears in various dynastic histories. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 得不償失?
In Mandarin it is dé bù cháng shī. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 得不償失 aloud in Mandarin.