成也萧何,败也萧何 chéng yě xiāo hé , bài yě xiāo hé

same person brings success and failure

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. a situation where one's success and failure are both due to the same factor
  2. 2. lit. raised up by Xiao He, cast down by Xiao He (idiom), alluding to Han Xin hán xìn being made Grand General dà jiāng jūn

Characters

Character Meaning
to become; to succeed; to complete
also; too; surname Ye
surname Xiao; miserable; desolate
what; how; why
to fail; to lose (to an opponent); to defeat
also; too; surname Ye
surname Xiao; miserable; desolate
what; how; why