得不偿失...
de bu chang shi...
Not worth it...
Wörtlich: to gain (得) not (不) compensate for (偿) the loss (失)
In 15 Sekunden
- The cost outweighs the benefit significantly.
- A classic idiom for bad investments or poor trade-offs.
- Use it to warn others against making unwise sacrifices.
Bedeutung
It describes a situation where the cost or effort you put in is much greater than the reward you get back. It is the ultimate expression for a 'bad deal' or a 'lose-lose' scenario.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Talking about working overtime
为了这点加班费熬夜，真是得不偿失。
Staying up all night for this tiny overtime pay is really not worth it.
A business strategy meeting
这个项目风险太大，收益太小，恐怕会得不偿失。
This project has too much risk and too little profit; I'm afraid the loss will outweigh the gain.
Texting a friend about a sale
排队五个小时就为了买个打折杯子？得不偿失吧。
Waiting five hours just for a discounted mug? Seems like the loss outweighs the gain.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Used frequently in business news to critique failed mergers. Common in daily life advice. Used in formal education to teach prudence. Used in Cantonese-influenced Mandarin contexts.
Use it as a warning
It is most effective when used to prevent someone from making a mistake.
In 15 Sekunden
- The cost outweighs the benefit significantly.
- A classic idiom for bad investments or poor trade-offs.
- Use it to warn others against making unwise sacrifices.
What It Means
Think of this as the 'bad ROI' of life. You spend $100 on gas to save $5 on a shirt. You stay up all night studying but feel too sick to take the exam. In these moments, your 'gain' is tiny compared to your 'loss.' It is a classic four-character idiom (chengyu). It perfectly captures that feeling of regret after a poor decision.
How To Use It
You usually use it as a standalone comment or a predicate. You can say 'This is 得不偿失' or 'Doing that would be 得不偿失.' It functions like an adjective in English. You don't need fancy grammar to make it work. Just drop it at the end of a sentence to sound wise. It shows you have weighed the pros and cons.
When To Use It
Use it when discussing investments, health, or even relationships. If a friend wants to work three jobs and stops sleeping, tell them it's 得不偿失. In a business meeting, use it to shut down a risky, low-reward project. It works great when texting about a long commute for a short party. It adds a bit of weight to your opinion.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for purely emotional losses without a 'gain' component. If you just lose your keys, that is just a loss. There has to be an attempt to get something that backfired. Also, avoid it in extremely casual slang-heavy settings where '不划算' (bù huásuàn) fits better. It might sound a bit too 'poetic' for a fast-food order. Save it for slightly more meaningful choices.
Cultural Background
This phrase comes from ancient Chinese philosophy and history. It reflects a cultural value of balance and 'Middle Way' thinking. Chinese culture highly prizes efficiency and long-term planning. Wasting resources for a temporary gain is seen as a lack of wisdom. It has been used for centuries by scholars and generals alike.
Common Variations
If you want to sound more casual, use 不划算 (bù huásuàn). If you want to be even more dramatic, try 赔了夫人又折兵. That one means 'losing your wife and your soldiers.' It’s for when a plan fails spectacularly. For a simple 'not worth it,' 不值得 (bù zhídé) is your safest bet. But 得不偿失 remains the most elegant way to describe a lopsided trade-off.
Nutzungshinweise
The phrase is highly versatile across all registers except the most extreme slang. It is most effective when used to provide a cautionary opinion or to express regret over a lopsided outcome.
Use it as a warning
It is most effective when used to prevent someone from making a mistake.
Beispiele
6为了这点加班费熬夜，真是得不偿失。
Staying up all night for this tiny overtime pay is really not worth it.
Highlights the trade-off between health and a small amount of money.
这个项目风险太大，收益太小，恐怕会得不偿失。
This project has too much risk and too little profit; I'm afraid the loss will outweigh the gain.
Used here to provide a professional warning.
排队五个小时就为了买个打折杯子？得不偿失吧。
Waiting five hours just for a discounted mug? Seems like the loss outweighs the gain.
A casual way to judge a friend's questionable shopping choices.
节食减肥弄坏了身体，简直是得不偿失。
Ruining your health by dieting is simply not worth the gain.
Expresses concern over a serious negative consequence.
为了赢这一局游戏，我手机都摔坏了，真是得不偿失！
I broke my phone just to win this one round; talk about a bad trade-off!
Self-deprecating humor about an overreaction.
我们不能只看眼前利益，否则往往会得不偿失。
We cannot only look at immediate interests, or we will often find the loss outweighs the gain.
A serious warning about long-term consequences.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank.
为了省这点钱而耽误了工作，真是______。
The context implies a negative outcome from trying to save money.
🎉 Ergebnis: /1
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
1 Aufgaben为了省这点钱而耽误了工作，真是______。
The context implies a negative outcome from trying to save money.
🎉 Ergebnis: /1
Häufig gestellte Fragen
1 FragenNo, it is strictly for negative outcomes.
Verwandte Redewendungen
因小失大
similarLose big for small.
赔了夫人又折兵
similarTotal loss.
