三国·Three Kingdoms

赔了夫人又折兵péi le fū ren yòu zhé bīng

What does 赔了夫人又折兵 mean?

To lose the lady and soldiers too, suffering a double loss when a scheme backfires

指zhǐ本běn想xiǎng算suàn计jì别bié人rén，结jié果guǒ不bú但dàn没méi有yǒu成chéng功gōng，反fǎn而ér连lián自zì己jǐ原yuán有yǒu的de东dōng西xī也yě一yì起qǐ损sǔn失shī了le，遭zāo受shòu双shuāng重zhòng失shī败bài。

Historical origin

In the Three Kingdoms story, Zhou Yu of Wu planned to invite Liu Bei to Wu with a marriage offer and then keep him there as a trap. But Zhuge Liang had already given Liu Bei sealed letters with instructions for escape. Lady Sun chose to leave with Liu Bei, and when Zhou Yu sent soldiers to chase them, Liu Bei escaped by boat. The pursuing soldiers straggled back in broken, exhausted ranks, so Zhou Yu lost Lady Sun and also spent his soldiers for nothing.

周瑜 · Zhou Yu刘备 · Liu Bei诸葛亮 · Zhuge Liang孙权 · Sun Quan孙夫人 · Lady Sun吴国太 · Lady Wu

How do you use 赔了夫人又折兵 in a sentence?

He tried to trick the other team into giving up, but they won the game and took his best player, so he really lost the lady and soldiers too.

他tā本běn想xiǎng骗piàn对duì方fāng球qiú队duì放fàng弃qì，结jié果guǒ对duì方fāng赢yíng了le比bǐ赛sài，还hái带dài走zǒu了le他tā最zuì好hǎo的de队duì员yuán，真zhēn是shì赔péi了le夫fū人rén又yòu折zhé兵bīng。

Common mistake

Do not use this idiom for an ordinary loss or accident. It is used when someone sets a trap or makes a plan to harm or control others, but the plan backfires and causes a double loss instead.

不bú要yào把bǎ这zhè个gè成chéng语yǔ用yòng在zài普pǔ通tōng的de损sǔn失shī或huò意yì外wài上shàng。它tā用yòng于yú一yí个gè人rén本běn来lái设shè下xià圈quān套tào或huò计jì划huà去qù算suàn计jì、控kòng制zhì别bié人rén，结jié果guǒ计jì划huà反fǎn而ér害hài了le自zì己jǐ，造zào成chéng双shuāng重zhòng损sǔn失shī。

The illustrated storybook

Zhou Yu is the most brilliant strategist in Wu. His plan is perfect: offer Sun Quan's sister in marriage, lure Liu Bei to Wu, keep them both as hostages. He has thought of everything. Zhuge Liang has thought of everything else. Liu Bei marries the princess, is treated like a king, and leaves with her. Zhou Yu gives chase and loses soldiers. The most dangerous enemy of a brilliant plan is a better one.

周(zhōu)瑜(yú)是(shì)东(dōng)吴(wú)最(zuì)聪(cōng)明(ming)的(de)谋(móu)士(shì)。他(tā)的(de)计(jì)策(cè)无(wú)懈(xiè)可(kě)击(jī)：以(yǐ)孙(sūn)权(quán)之(zhī)妹(mèi)为(wèi)饵(ěr)，将(jiāng)刘(liú)备(bèi)诱(yòu)入(rù)东(dōng)吴(wú)，再(zài)将(jiāng)二(èr)人(rén)扣(kòu)押(yā)。他(tā)什(shén)么(me)都(dōu)想(xiǎng)到(dào)了(le)。诸(zhū)葛(gě)亮(liàng)想(xiǎng)到(dào)了(le)其(qí)余(yú)的(de)一(yí)切(qiè)。刘(liú)备(bèi)迎(yíng)娶(qǔ)公(gōng)主(zhǔ)，享(xiǎng)尽(jìn)礼(lǐ)遇(yù)，扬(yáng)长(cháng)而(ér)去(qù)。周(zhōu)瑜(yú)追(zhuī)兵(bīng)折(zhé)损(sǔn)。一(yí)个(gè)绝(jué)妙(miào)计(jì)策(cè)最(zuì)危(wēi)险(xiǎn)的(de)敌(dí)人(rén)，是(shì)另(lìng)一(yí)个(gè)更(gèng)绝(jué)妙(miào)的(de)计(jì)策(cè)。

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智慧典故系列 · Wisdom Series · Tales of China