How do you use 赔了夫人又折兵 in a sentence?
He tried to trick his classmate into sharing answers, but the teacher caught him, so he got a zero and lost his friend's trust too—a real case of losing the lady and soldiers too.
他想骗同学给他看答案，结果被老师发现，不但得了零分，还失去了朋友的信任，真是赔了夫人又折兵。
The shop lowered prices too much to defeat its rival, but customers still left and the store lost money as well; it ended up suffering a double loss.
那家商店为了打败对手把价格压得太低，结果顾客还是走了，自己也赔了钱，最后真是赔了夫人又折兵。
The team blamed one player to protect its image, but fans became angrier and the team spirit broke down too, so the plan backfired badly.
球队为了保住形象，把责任推给一名球员，结果球迷更生气了，团队士气也散了，真是赔了夫人又折兵。
When does it fit — and when doesn't it?
✓ Fits
He wanted to embarrass his opponent with a rumor, but the lie was exposed and he damaged his own reputation too, so this idiom fits perfectly.
他本想用谣言让对手难堪，结果谎言被揭穿，连自己的名声也毁了，这正是赔了夫人又折兵。
✗ Doesn't fit
She studied hard for the test and got first place, so it would be wrong to use this idiom here.
她认真复习，考试得了第一名，这里就不适合用“赔了夫人又折兵”。
Why?
The idiom is used when someone makes a plan and ends up with double losses, not when things go well.
这个成语用于计划失败并造成双重损失的时候，不适合用在结果顺利或成功的情况。
Common mistake
A common mistake is using the idiom for any ordinary loss or unlucky event, even when there was no plan that backfired.
常见错误是把这个成语用在任何普通的损失或倒霉事情上，即使并没有“原本设计好的计划反而害了自己”。
Correction
Use it when someone tries to gain an advantage, but the scheme fails and causes more than one loss.
这个成语要用在一个人本来想占便宜或设下计策，结果计划失败，反而造成不止一种损失的时候。
Why does this error happen?
The error happens because learners remember the idea of 'loss' but forget the important meaning of a failed scheme and double damage.
What do exams test about this idiom?
In PSLE or HSK-style questions, this idiom is usually tested by asking whether the situation shows a backfired plan that leads to double loss, not just simple failure.
小测验 · Quick Quiz
Test your understanding
1. What does 赔了夫人又折兵 mean?
赔了夫人又折兵是什么意思？
To lose the lady and soldiers too — suffering a double loss when a scheme backfires
赔了夫人又折兵——计谋弄巧成拙，两头落空
To win a great battle but lose your most trusted general at the same time
打了大胜仗，却同时失去了最信任的将领
To send a bride as a peace offering and gain a powerful new ally
送出一位新娘作为和平礼物，换取一个强大的新盟友
2. At the Wu banquet when Lu Su tried to pressure him, how did Liu Bei behave?
在吴国宴席上，鲁肃向刘备施压时，刘备是如何应对的？
He challenged the Wu generals to a duel to show his courage
他向吴国将领发起决斗，展示自己的勇气
He sat composed and unhurried, giving nothing away
他神态从容，不慌不忙，丝毫未透露虚实
He agreed to return Jingzhou to avoid any further trouble
他同意归还荆州，以免节外生枝
3. Which sentence uses 赔了夫人又折兵 correctly?
哪个句子正确地使用了赔了夫人又折兵？
He tried to trick his classmate into sharing answers, got caught, received a zero, and lost his friend's trust too — a real case of 赔了夫人又折兵.
他想骗同学共享答案，被老师发现，不仅得了零分，还失去了朋友的信任——真是赔了夫人又折兵。
She studied hard for the exam and got top marks — that was 赔了夫人又折兵.
她认真备考，考了最高分——这就是赔了夫人又折兵。
The rescue team saved everyone and came home safely — a true 赔了夫人又折兵.
救援队救了所有人，平安回家——这才是真正的赔了夫人又折兵。
Answers: 1A · 2B · 3A
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智慧典故系列 · Wisdom Series · Tales of China