凶多吉少 (xiōng duō jí shǎo) — idiom meaning the omens are more ominous than auspicious; to bode ill rather than well

Definition

A chengyu used to describe a situation where the likely outcome is bad — risks outweigh chances of success. Implies a grim forecast without specifying what will go wrong.

idiom
idiom meaning the omens are more ominous than auspiciousto bode ill rather than well

Examples

  • ，凶多吉少。
    Zhè cì tóu zī fēng xiǎn tài dà, kàn qǐ lái xiōng duō jí shǎo.
    This investment is too risky; it looks like it will bode ill rather than well.
  • ，凶多吉少。
    Yī shēng shuō tā bìng qíng è huà, kǒng pà xiōng duō jí shǎo le.
    The doctor said his condition has worsened; I'm afraid the outlook is grim.
  • ，凶多吉少。
    Tiān qì yù bào shuō hǎi shàng fēng làng hěn dà, zhè cì chū hǎi xiōng duō jí shǎo.
    The weather forecast says the winds and waves at sea are strong; this voyage is likely to end badly.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

凶 originally drew a hole with a lump of rock, mud, stone, or bamboo in it.

Open 凶 →

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

多 originally showed two pieces of meat placed together; the repeated meat shape gives the sense of many.

Open 多 →

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

In the earliest forms, 吉 was drawn with a mouth-like lower part and an upper part that later became today's upper shape.

Open 吉 →

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

The form 少 is drawn as four dots, perhaps three grains of sand, to indicate a few or a little.

Open 少 →

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