CHENGYU
两败俱伤(liǎng bài jù shāng)meaning, story and origin
- Register:
- neutral
- Source:
- 《史记·张仪列传》
MEANING
- Literal
- both sides are defeated and wounded
- Figurative meaning
- a fight where both sides lose
ORIGIN STORY
In the Records of the Grand Historian, a strategist tells of two tigers fighting over a calf: the greater one is wounded and the lesser one dies — and the bystander then wins both with one thrust. The phrase is the warning against such mutual destruction.
NATURAL EQUIVALENT
“mutually assured destruction”
EXAMPLES
价格战打下去只会两败俱伤。Jiàgézhàn dǎ xiàqù zhǐ huì liǎng bài jù shāng.HSK6
A price war carried on will only leave both sides wounded.
吵架解决不了问题，最后两败俱伤。Chǎojià jiějué bù liǎo wèntí, zuìhòu liǎng bài jù shāng.HSK6
Quarreling solves nothing — in the end both sides lose.
COMMON MISTAKE
Watch out: Both sides must be hurt — it is not a draw where both do fine.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
Tap a character to explore it
TRUST & SOURCES
- Reviewed by
- AI-assisted editorial review
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-15
- CC-CEDICT 2026-01-01