Looking up...
弊小于利
bì xiǎo yú lì
the advantages outweigh the disadvantages
虽然这个计划有风险，但弊小于利，值得一试。
Although this plan has risks, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, so it's worth trying.
formal
The benefits or positive outcomes are greater than the drawbacks or negative outcomes in a given situation.
在评估新政策时，我们必须权衡弊小于利的因素。
When evaluating new policies, we must weigh the factors where the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
尽管有额外的成本，但弊小于利，因此我们决定投资这个项目。
Despite the additional costs, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, so we decided to invest in this project.
Often used in decision-making contexts to justify a choice despite potential downsides.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Contextual Usage
Use '弊小于利' when discussing trade-offs where the benefits are slightly greater than the drawbacks. For significantly greater advantages, use '利大于弊'.
Gold Rule
Avoid Literal Translation
Do not translate '弊小于利' word-for-word as 'disadvantages are less than advantages.' Instead, use the idiomatic English phrase 'the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.'
Word Origin
The phrase is composed of three Chinese characters: 弊 (bì, 'disadvantage'), 小于 (xiǎo yú, 'less than'), and 利 (lì, 'advantage'). It reflects a traditional Chinese concept of balancing negative and positive outcomes in decision-making.
Usage Notes
This phrase is commonly used in formal or analytical contexts, such as business, policy-making, or personal decision-making. It emphasizes a rational approach to evaluating trade-offs.
Word Breakdown
弊
disadvantage or drawback
root小于
less than
phrase利
advantage or benefit
root汉英词典