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两败俱伤 (liǎng bài jū shāng) — both sides lose; neither side gains anything

Definition

An idiom for a contest or argument where neither side wins — both walk away hurt. Implies the conflict was pointless and should be stopped.

idiom
both sides loseneither side gains anything

Examples

  • 两败俱伤，。
    Zhè chǎng shāng yè jìng zhēng zuì hòu liǎng bài jū shāng, liǎng jiā gōng sī dōu pò chǎn le.
    This business competition ended with both sides losing; both companies went bankrupt.
  • ，两败俱伤，。
    Rú guǒ jì xù dǎ xià qù, zhī huì liǎng bài jū shāng, bù rú zuò xià lái hǎo hǎo tán.
    If you keep fighting, you'll only both suffer; you'd be better off sitting down and talking it over.
  • ，两败俱伤，。
    Tā men chǎo le yí jià, jié guǒ liǎng bài jū shāng, shuí yě méi dé dào hǎo chù.
    They had a quarrel, and it ended with both sides losing; neither got any benefit.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

两败both defeated
两liǎngboth败bàidefeated
偏正Modifier + head
俱伤all injured
俱jùall伤shānginjured
偏正Modifier + head

两败 says both sides are defeated and 俱伤 says all are hurt, expressing mutual loss.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 兩; 两 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 兩 is described as combining 一 and 㒳. The simplified 两 is a later abbreviation.

Open 两 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 敗; 败 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攵Written in full as攴pūstrike
Sound part声符shēngfú
貝
貝bèi敗bài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 敗 has 貝 as the sound component and 攴 (written 攵) meaning strike. The simplified 败 is a later abbreviation, so its parts are not the original components.

Open 败 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
具
具jù俱jù
Same sound today

俱 pairs 亻, a form of 人 (person), with 具 as the sound part.

Open 俱 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 傷; 伤 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
𥏻
𥏻𥏻傷shāng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 傷 shows 人, a person, and uses 𥏻 to give the sound; the simplified 伤 is a later shorthand.

Open 伤 →
Appears in
Conflict & AgreementIdioms & Set Phrases

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