得不偿失...
Not worth it...
Littéralement: to gain (得) not (不) compensate for (偿) the loss (失)
Use this phrase when the 'price' paid—time, money, or health—is bigger than the prize.
En 15 secondes
- 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.
Signification
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.
Exemples clés
3 sur 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.
Contexte culturel
Originating from the 'Book of the Later Han', this idiom reflects the traditional Chinese emphasis on 'Zhongyong' or the Golden Mean. It suggests that extreme actions often lead to imbalances where the effort outweighs the reward. It is a staple in both literary works and modern business negotiation.
The 'Predicate' Trick
You don't need to say 'This is a 得不偿失 situation.' Just say '这样做得不偿失' (Doing this is not worth it). It's much more natural.
Don't Overuse with Small Things
If you drop your ice cream, don't use this. It requires a choice where you tried to gain something but lost more in the process.
En 15 secondes
- 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.
Notes d'usage
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.
The 'Predicate' Trick
You don't need to say 'This is a 得不偿失 situation.' Just say '这样做得不偿失' (Doing this is not worth it). It's much more natural.
Don't Overuse with Small Things
If you drop your ice cream, don't use this. It requires a choice where you tried to gain something but lost more in the process.
The Four-Character Magic
Using four-character idioms like this makes you sound educated. Even in casual talk, it shows you have a good grasp of Chinese logic and rhythm.
Exemples
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-toi
Choose the best phrase to complete the sentence about a bad deal.
为了省几块钱跑遍全城，真是___。
The sentence describes wasting time to save a tiny amount of money, which perfectly fits 'the loss outweighs the gain'.
Which phrase fits a situation where someone loses their health for work?
他拼命工作却病倒了，大家都觉得___。
Losing health (a big loss) for work (a gain) is the definition of '得不偿失'.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of 'Not Worth It'
Casual chat with friends
不划算 (Bù huásuàn)
Everyday situations and work
得不偿失 (Dé bù cháng shī)
Written reports or speeches
弊大于利 (Bì dà yú lì)
When to say 得不偿失
Bad Investment
High risk, low reward stocks
Health vs Work
Overworking to the point of illness
Time Wasting
Driving 2 hours for a 5-minute errand
Cheap Quality
Buying a cheap tool that breaks instantly
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNot at all! You can use it for time, health, reputation, or even energy. For example, 熬夜玩游戏得不偿失 (Staying up to play games isn't worth the loss of sleep).
Yes, it is perfectly appropriate for professional settings. It sounds objective and analytical rather than emotional.
不值得 simply means 'not worth it.' 得不偿失 specifically emphasizes that you actually lost something significant while trying to gain something small.
It is very common! You will hear it in news reports, business meetings, and even parents scolding their kids for making silly choices.
Usually, no. You can say 这是得不偿失的行为 (This is a not-worth-it behavior), but it is more common to use it as the end of the sentence.
A good opposite is 事半功倍 (shì bàn gōng bèi), which means 'half the effort, twice the result.'
No, it describes actions or situations, not people. You wouldn't call a person 得不偿失.
No, it is a formal idiom (chengyu), but it is so widely understood that it's used in everyday neutral conversation.
Yes, it is always used to describe a mistake or a situation you should avoid.
Absolutely. It’s a quick way to express that a plan is a bad idea without writing a long explanation.
Expressions liées
不划算
Not worth the price/effort (more casual)
事倍功半
Twice the effort, half the result
弊大于利
The disadvantages outweigh the advantages
捡了芝麻，丢了西瓜
Picking up a sesame seed but dropping a watermelon (focusing on small gains and losing big ones)
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