铩羽而归 (shā yǔ ér guī) — (idiom) to return in defeat or disappointment, to come back empty-handed after a failure

Definition

Idiom meaning to return defeated and dejected, with one's ambitions thwarted. A more literary, emotionally heavier way to say 'come back empty-handed' after a failure.

idiom
to return in defeat or disappointment, to come back empty-handed after a failure

Examples

  • ，铩羽而归。
    Zhè cì bǐ sài tā men suī rán nǔ lì le, zuì hòu hái shì shā yǔ ér guī.
    They tried hard in this competition, but in the end they returned in defeat.
  • ，铩羽而归。
    Nà jiā gōng sī jìng biāo shī bài, zhǐ néng shā yǔ ér guī.
    That company lost the bid and had to return empty-handed.
  • ，铩羽而归。
    Tā dài zhe xióng xīn zhuàng zhì qù chuàng yè, què shā yǔ ér guī.
    He started his business with great ambition, but returned in disappointment.

Origin

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

羽 comes from a picture of wings or feathers.

Open 羽 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 而 is a picture of a beard.

Open 而 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 歸; 归 is its simplified writing.

  • 𠂤𠂤𠂤ancient form of {{zh-l|*師|troops}}
  • 帚帚zhǒubroom; sweep

The traditional form 歸 combines 𠂤 (troops) and 帚 (broom; sweep) to show sweeping away an enemy and returning; the simplified 归 is a later abbreviation.

Open 归 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.