出师未捷身先死

出師未捷身先死

chū shī wèi jié shēn xiān sǐ

quotation

Meanings

1 marched out but died before victory
2 died before the campaign could succeed; a cause cut short by death

Characters

go out, set out

first, beforehand

Examples

HSK 6

这位科学家出师未捷身先死，留下未完成的研究。

Zhè wèi kēxuéjiā chū shī wèi jié shēn xiān sǐ, liúxià wèi wánchéng de yánjiū.

This scientist died before his work could triumph, leaving research unfinished.

HSK 7-9

诸葛亮出师未捷身先死，长使英雄泪满襟。

Zhūgě Liàng chū shī wèi jié shēn xiān sǐ, chángshǐyīngxiónglèimǎnjīn.

Zhuge Liang died before his campaign could triumph - forever making heroes' tears soak their robes.

Tips

history

From Du Fu 杜甫's 《蜀相》 (Tang), about Zhuge Liang 诸葛亮: '出师未捷身先死，长使英雄泪满襟。' (He set out to war but died before victory; forever it makes heroes' tears soak their robes.) Refers to Zhuge Liang dying at Wuzhang Plains during his fifth northern campaign against Wei.

usage

未捷 = not yet victorious. The line is a stock elegy for any leader or reformer whose project is interrupted by death.

Stroke Order

出 chū

师 shī

未 wèi

捷 jié

身 shēn

先 xiān

死 sǐ