Chinese word

因小失大

Pronunciation

Pinyinyīn xiǎo shī dà

Meaning

  • idiomlose a lot for a little

Example

别为一点好处而因小失大。bié wèi yì diǎn hǎo chù ér yīn xiǎo shī dà

Don't lose a lot just for a small benefit.

Illustration for 因小失大 (lose a lot for a little)

More examples

投资时要谨慎，避免因小失大。tóu zī shí yào jǐn shèn bì miǎn yīn xiǎo shī dà

Be careful when investing to avoid losing a lot for a little.

Core concept

A narrow focus on a small immediate gain lets a much larger outcome slip away.

Common phrases

  • 避免因小失大bì miǎn yīn xiǎo shī dà

    avoid losing a lot for a little

  • 切莫因小失大qiè mò yīn xiǎo shī dà

    never lose a lot for a little

Similar words

贪小失大tān xiǎo shī dà: Desiring a small profit causes a much larger loss in the end.
得不偿失dé bù cháng shī: The value of the gain is less than the value of the loss, making the outcome unfavorable.
本末倒置běn mò dào zhì: Less important matters are put first, while the main matters are treated as secondary.
舍本逐末shé běn zhú mò: The essential foundation is neglected in favor of pursuing small details.

Definition in Chinese

因小失大是指为了眼前一点小利而招致更大的损失。yīn xiǎo shī dà shì zhǐ wèi le yǎn qián yì diǎn xiǎo lì ér zhāo zhì gèng dà de sǔn shī

Word origin

因小失大 (yīnxiǎoshīdà, "lose the big through the small") combines 因 (yīn, "because of") + 小 (xiǎo, "small") + 失 (shī, "lose") + 大 (dà, "big") to frame the small as the reason for losing the large.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, it often comments on a choice made for a short-term benefit that has a clearly worse overall result, so it carries a warning rather than a neutral description.

Other meanings

  • lose sight of the big pictureidiom

Word lists with this word