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Traditional (switch to Simplified)

得不償失 (得不偿失)

dé bù cháng shī

Definition

  1. not worth it
  2. not worth the loss
  3. the gains do not make up for the losses (idiom)
  4. to lose more than to gain
  5. not worth the candle
  6. the game is not worth the candle
  7. the loss outweighs the gain
  8. gains cannot make up for losses
  9. more kicks than halfpence
  10. to pay (too dear) for one's whistle
  11. to give a lark to catch a kite

Character Decomposition

得
=
彳
+
旦
+
寸
不
=
丆
+
卜
償
=
亻
+
賞
失
=
夫
+
？

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