前功尽灭 previous merits destroyed
Explanation
指以前的功劳全部废弃。也指以前的努力全部白费。
Refers to the complete abandonment of previous achievements. Also refers to the complete waste of previous efforts.
Origin Story
战国时期，秦国攻打魏国，魏国向齐国求救。齐国将军田忌和孙膑想出一个妙计，让魏军疲于奔命，最后大获全胜。然而，齐王听信了谗言，认为田忌居功自傲，便将他免职。田忌被免职后，齐国再无良将统领军队，不久便遭受了失败。这场胜利，让田忌之前所有的功劳都付诸东流，真是前功尽灭。
During the Warring States period, the State of Qin attacked Wei. Wei asked Qi for help. Qi's General Tian Ji and Sun Bin devised a clever plan that kept Wei's army running around until finally they won a great victory. However, King Qi listened to slanderous words and thought Tian Ji was arrogant, so he dismissed him from his post. After Tian Ji was dismissed, Qi had no more capable generals to lead the army and soon suffered defeat. This victory made all of Tian Ji's previous merits vanish into thin air—a perfect example of previous merits being destroyed.
Usage
用作谓语、宾语；指以前的努力全部白费。
Used as predicate and object; refers to the complete waste of previous efforts.
Examples
-
他多年的努力，因为这次失误而前功尽灭。
ta duonian de nuli, yinwei zheci shiwu er qiangong jinmie.
His years of effort were wiped out by this mistake.
-
多年的心血，因为这个错误，前功尽灭。
duonian de xin xue, yinwei zhege cuowu, qiangong jinmie.
Years of hard work were all in vain because of this mistake.