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.

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