成事不足，败事有余 chéng shì bù zú ， bài shì yǒu yú

unable to accomplish anything but liable to spoil everything (idiom)

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. unable to accomplish anything but liable to spoil everything (idiom)
  2. 2. unable to do anything right
  3. 3. never make, but always mar

Characters

Character Meaning
成 chéng HSK 3
to become; to succeed; to complete
事 shì HSK 2
matter; thing; affair
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
足 zú HSK 2
to be sufficient; foot; ample
败 bài HSK 4
to fail; to lose (to an opponent); to defeat
事 shì HSK 2
matter; thing; affair
有 yǒu HSK 1
to have; there is; there are
余 yú HSK 5
remaining; surplus; extra