损兵折将 Heavy losses of troops and generals
Explanation
损兵折将指的是军队在战斗中损失士兵和将领，通常指打了败仗，遭受重大损失。
The idiom "Sun Bing Zhe Jiang" refers to the loss of soldiers and generals in battle, usually indicating a lost battle and significant losses.
Origin Story
话说三国时期，蜀汉丞相诸葛亮率领大军北伐，意图收复中原。然而，魏国大将司马懿深谙兵法，布下精妙的防御阵势。蜀军多次猛攻，却屡屡受挫，伤亡惨重，损兵折将。诸葛亮无奈，只得下令退兵。北伐失败，蜀汉元气大伤。
During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang, the chancellor of Shu Han, led a large army on a northern expedition to recover the central plains. However, Sima Yi, a general of Wei, was well-versed in military strategy and deployed sophisticated defensive formations. The Shu army launched repeated attacks but suffered repeated setbacks and heavy casualties, resulting in significant losses of soldiers and generals. Zhuge Liang had no choice but to order a retreat. The northern expedition failed, and Shu Han was severely weakened.
Usage
损兵折将一般用于描述战争或战斗的结果，形容军队遭受重大损失，也常用于比喻在其他事情上遭遇挫折，付出很大代价。
The idiom "Sun Bing Zhe Jiang" is generally used to describe the outcome of a war or battle, depicting significant losses suffered by an army. It's also often used to illustrate setbacks or heavy losses in other aspects of life.
Examples
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此战损兵折将，元气大伤。
ci zhan sun bing zhe jiang, yuan qi da shang
This battle resulted in heavy losses of troops and generals, severely weakening our forces.
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他们损兵折将，惨败而归。
tamen sun bing zhe jiang, can bai er gui
They suffered heavy casualties and were defeated miserably.