dé bù cháng shī: 得不偿失 - The gains do not make up for the losses

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

“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.

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 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.

• 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.

• 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.