得不償失 dé bù cháng shī

DEFINITIONS

  1. the gains do not make up for the losses (idiom)

CHARACTERS

得 dé
HSK 2
obtain, get, gain, acquire
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
償 cháng repay, recompense; restitution
失 shī
HSK 4
lose; make mistake, neglect