Chinese word

得失

Pronunciation

Pinyindé shī

Meaning

  • noungains and losses

Example

做选择时要权衡得失。zuò xuǎn zé shí yào quán héng dé shī

The gains and losses should be carefully weighed when making a choice.

Illustration for 得失 (gains and losses)

More examples

为了大局，他常常不计得失。wèi le dà jú tā cháng cháng bú jì dé shī

For the greater good, he often disregards gains and losses.

Core concept

A choice viewed as a balance between what it brings and what it costs.

Common phrases

  • 权衡得失quán héng dé shī

    weigh gains and losses

  • 不计得失bú jì dé shī

    disregard gains and losses

  • 顾及得失gù jí dé shī

    take gains and losses into account

Similar words

利益lì yì: Something good gained from an action, including money or a personal benefit.
损失sǔn shī: A loss or harmful result caused by an action, event, or decision.

Definition in Chinese

表示对某一行为或选择可能带来的利益与损失进行权衡，侧重于比较双方轻重及后果。biǎo shì duì mǒu yì xíng wèi huò xuǎn zé kě néng dài lái de lì yì yǔ sǔn shī jìn xíng quán héng cè zhòng yú bǐ jiào shuāng fāng qīng zhòng jí hòu guǒ

Word origin

得失 (déshī, "gain and loss") combines 得 (dé, "obtain") with 失 (shī, "lose"), putting the two possible sides of an action into one expression.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may associate gains and losses mainly with money, but this Chinese noun also covers the wider results of an everyday choice, including whether it succeeds or fails.

Other meanings

  • advantages and disadvantagesnoun
  • success and failurenoun

Related words

  • 得失观dé shī guānview of gains and lossesnoun

Word lists with this word