失之东隅，收之桑榆 — “To suffer a setback in one area but achieve success in another”
失之东隅，收之桑榆 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to suffer a setback in one area but achieve success in another”. What is lost in the morning (or one endeavor) may be gained in the evening (or a different endeavor). Literally, “Lose at the eastern corner, gain at the mulberry and elm”.
失之东隅，收之桑榆 Pronunciation and Pinyin
失之东隅，收之桑榆 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 失之东隅，收之桑榆
Origin and Story of 失之东隅，收之桑榆
In the early Eastern Han Dynasty, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu dispatched generals Feng Yi and Deng Yu to suppress the Chimei (Red Eyebrows) peasant uprising.
Deng Yu's army suffered heavy losses in a battle against the rebels. Feng Yi, however, ordered his troops to strengthen their defenses and regroup scattered soldiers. At the same time, he sent troops disguised as Chimei rebels to infiltrate their ranks.
As a result, Feng Yi achieved a great victory. The imperial court issued a decree commending their battle, describing it as 'lose at sunrise, gain at sunset,' acknowledging initial difficulties leading to ultimate success.
Idioms Related to 失之东隅，收之桑榆
Synonyms of 失之东隅，收之桑榆
More idioms starting with 失
- shī失zhī之dōng东yú隅lose at the beginning
- shī失zhī之jiāo交bì臂miss a golden opportunity
- shī失zhī之qiān千lǐ里，，chà差ruò若háo毫lí厘A tiny error leads to a huge divergence
- shī失zhī之háo毫lí厘，，chā差zhī之qiān千lǐ里A small error leads to a huge mistake
- shī失zhī之háo毫lí厘，，chà差yǐ以qiān千lǐ里A small error leads to a huge mistake
- shī失zhī之háo毫lí厘，，miù谬yǐ以qiān千lǐ里A small error leads to a huge mistake
- shī失zhāng张mào冒shì势act rashly and impetuously
- shī失zhāng张shī失zhì志flustered and disoriented
- shī失zhāng张shī失zhì智utterly flustered and disoriented
- shī失zhāng张shī失zhì致flustered and disoriented
- shī失jīng惊dǎo倒guài怪make a fuss over nothing
- shī失jīng惊dǎ打guài怪make a fuss over a trifle
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Open the tool →Questions about 失之东隅，收之桑榆
What does 失之东隅，收之桑榆 mean?
失之东隅，收之桑榆 (shī zhī dōng yú ， shōu zhī sāng yú) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to suffer a setback in one area but achieve success in another”.
How do you pronounce 失之东隅，收之桑榆?
失之东隅，收之桑榆 is pronounced shī zhī dōng yú ， shōu zhī sāng yú in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 失之东隅，收之桑榆 literally mean?
Literally, 失之东隅，收之桑榆 means “Lose at the eastern corner, gain at the mulberry and elm”. It is used to mean “to suffer a setback in one area but achieve success in another”.
Where does 失之东隅，收之桑榆 come from?
失之东隅，收之桑榆 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 失之东隅，收之桑榆?
东隅：东方日出处，指早晨；桑、榆：指日落处，也指日暮。比喻开始在这一方面失败了，最后在另一方面取得胜利。