cháng shī

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English Translation

lit.: the gains do not make up for the losses
fig.: the game is not worth the candle

Breaking it down

  1. 得: gain
  2. 不: not
  3. 偿: to repay, compensate
  4. 失: loss

Source: Google Image Search

Story in Chinese

三国时期,东吴孙权占据江东六郡,他想扩大自己的势力范围,就召集群臣商议攻打夷州和琼崖有关事宜,大臣们均赞同出兵,只有右都护陆逊不赞同, 他认为当前应该休养生息增强实力。孙权没采纳他的意见就出兵取胜,但整体上得不偿失。

Source: https://chengyu.qianp.com/gushi

Story in English

During the period of the Three Kingdoms, the king of the state of Wu, Sun Quan, occupied the six counties of Jiangdong. He wanted to expand his sphere of influence, and so called a group of ministers to discuss these matters. The ministers all agreed that troops should be sent out to attack Yizhou and Qiongya. Only the official Luxun did not agree, he thought that one should rather recover and regain the national strength.
Sun Quan nevertheless sent troops out against his advice, but overall the gains did not outweigh the losses.

Translation by Celine Li

Usage

你老想占人家小便宜,小心会得不偿失。