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偷鸡不成蚀把米
偷雞不成蝕把米
tōujībùchéngshíbǎmǐ
1.
lit. to try to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice used to lure it (idiom)
2.
fig. to try to gain an advantage only to end up worse off
3.
to go for wool and come back shorn
Character Breakdown
偷
tōu
to steal; burglar, thief
HSK 5
11 丶
鸡
jī
chicken
HSK 2
7 丶
不
bù
no, not, un-; negative prefix
HSK 1
4 丶
成
chéng
to accomplish; to become; to complete, to finish; to succeed
HSK 3
6 丶
蚀
shí
to nibble at, to erode; an eclipse
HSK 6
9 丶
把
bǎ
to grasp, to hold; to guard, to take; handle
HSK 3
7 丶
米
mǐ
rice, millet, grain
HSK 1
6 丶
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