得不償失 [－－偿－]

Jyutping dak1 bat1 soeng4 sat1
Pinyin dé bù cháng shī

Definitions (CC-CEDICT)
  1. the gains do not make up for the losses (idiom)
Definitions (粵典–words.hk)
  1. 動詞
    獲​得​嘅​嘢​唔​足以​彌補​冇​咗​嘅​嘢
    to be unable to cover loss with gain
    • 美國出兵為咗石油出兵中東實在係得不償失。
      美国出兵为咗石油出兵中东实在系得不偿失。
      The America sent her army to the Middle East for the oil just didn't worth it.
Definitions (Wiktionary)
  1. phrase, idiomatic
    the loss outweighs the gain; to do more harm than good
Definitions (Kaifangcidian)
  1. （沒有對應漢語詞彙）
Definitions (HSK3.0)
  1. HSK3 七一九级词汇表 #789
Examples (粵典–words.hk)
  1. Cantonese
    美国出兵为咗石油出兵中东实在系得不偿失。
    美國出兵為咗石油出兵中東實在係得不償失。
    • The America sent her army to the Middle East for the oil just didn't worth it.
  2. Cantonese
    你都系将架车泊返入停车场啦，唔系俾人抄牌就得不偿失㗎喇。
    你都係將架車泊返入停車場啦，唔係俾人抄牌就得不償失㗎喇。
    nei5 dou1 hai6 zoeng1 gaa3 ce1 paak3 faan1 jap6 ting4 ce1 coeng4 laa1, m4 hai6 bei2 jan4 caau1 paai4 zau6 dak1 bat1 soeng4 sat1 gaa3 laa3.
    • It's better for you to park the car in the car park. The loss will outweigh the gain if you get a ticket.
  3. Cantonese
    得不偿失
    得不償失
    dak1 bat1 soeng4 sat1
    • gains do not make up for losses