It means suffering a double loss—losing both what you already had and what you tried to gain. It describes a failed scheme that backfires completely.
From the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, where Zhou Yu's plan to trap Liu Bei ended with Liu Bei marrying Sun Shangxiang and Zhou Yu losing troops. It's a classic example of a clever plan that backfires.
It's a vivid, humorous way to describe failure and serves as a cautionary tale against over-clever scheming. It reminds people that pride and cunning can lead to greater losses.
Draw random cards from hundreds of real Chinese folk sayings and proverbs. Each flip reveals what Chinese people actually mean.
🎴 Play Chinese Wisdom Cards