弊大于利

bì dà yú lì
idiom★Intermediate— more harm than good◆idiom
◆ What It Really Means
A situation where the negative consequences of an action or decision are so severe that they nullify or outweigh any potential benefits, making the action ultimately unwise or counterproductive.
Literal Meaning
The disadvantages are greater than the advantages.
Literal Breakdown
弊disadvantages or harms+大于are greater than+利advantages or benefits
◇ Mental Image
Imagine a scale where the weight of disadvantages (弊) on one side is visibly heavier than the weight of advantages (利) on the other side, causing the scale to tip decisively toward the negative.
◈ When to Use
During a corporate board meeting, a manager proposes a new marketing strategy that promises high profits but risks damaging the company's reputation. A colleague argues, '这种策略弊大于利，我们不能冒这个险。' (This strategy does more harm than good; we cannot take this risk.)
◉ Cultural Note
This idiom reflects the traditional Chinese emphasis on balance and harmony (阴阳平衡). It is deeply rooted in Confucian philosophy, which values moderation and warns against extremes. The idiom is frequently cited in classical texts like the 'Zhuangzi' and 'Han Feizi' to critique policies or actions that disrupt natural harmony.
formal

A situation where the negative consequences or drawbacks of an action or decision outweigh its positive benefits.

过度开发自然资源弊大于利，最终会导致环境破坏。

Over-exploiting natural resources does more harm than good and will ultimately lead to environmental destruction.

这项改革方案虽然看起来有利，但弊大于利，实施后可能引发更多问题。

Although this reform plan seems beneficial, it does more harm than good and may cause more problems after implementation.

💡

Commonly used in policy discussions, business decisions, and personal choices to emphasize the dominance of negative outcomes.

Collocations

弊大于利的决定a decision that does more harm than good弊大于利的政策a policy that does more harm than good弊大于利的做法a practice that does more harm than good

Related Phrases

利大于弊idiom
the advantages outweigh the disadvantages
得不偿失idiom
the gains do not make up for the losses
舍本逐末idiom
to attend to trifles and neglect the essentials
因噎废食idiom
to give up eating for fear of choking (to avoid a problem by abandoning the solution entirely)

💡Pro Tip

Contextual Usage

Use '弊大于利' when you want to emphasize that the negative consequences are not just present but dominant. It is stronger than simply saying '有害' (harmful) and implies a failure of the action or decision itself.

⚡Gold Rule

Avoid Overgeneralization

Do not use '弊大于利' for situations where both advantages and disadvantages exist in balance. It specifically denotes a clear imbalance where the negative outweighs the positive.

📖Word Origin

The idiom combines 弊 (bì, meaning 'disadvantage' or 'harm') and 利 (lì, meaning 'advantage' or 'benefit'), with 大于 (dàyú, meaning 'greater than'). It first appeared in classical Chinese texts to describe situations where negative outcomes surpass positive ones.

📝Usage Notes

This idiom is often used in formal contexts such as policy debates, business strategies, or personal advice. It implies a clear judgment that the negative consequences are not only present but dominant. Avoid using it for neutral or balanced situations where pros and cons are equal.

Word Breakdown

弊
disadvantage, harm, drawback
root
+
大于
greater than
phrase
+
利
advantage, benefit, profit
root
汉英词典