偷雞不成蝕把米

tau1 gai1 bat1 sing4 sik6 baa2 mai5

lit. to try to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice used to lure it (idiom) · fig. to try to gain an advantage only to end up worse off · to go for wool and come back shorn

2 Written Forms

Meanings

  1. lit. to try to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice used to lure it (idiom)
  2. fig. to try to gain an advantage only to end up worse off
  3. to go for wool and come back shorn

Written Forms

偷雞不成蝕把米Traditional · Main Form
偷鸡不成蚀把米Alternate Form

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