明珠弹雀 using pearls to shoot sparrows
Explanation
用珍贵的珍珠去打鸟雀，比喻得不偿失，所付出的代价远远超过所得到的回报。
Using precious pearls to shoot sparrows. It's a metaphor for loss, the cost is far greater than the return.
Origin Story
从前，有个财主特别吝啬，家里珍宝无数，却舍不得用。一天，他偶然得到一颗价值连城的夜明珠。这财主爱不释手，每天都拿着它把玩。一日，他看见院子里几只麻雀在嬉戏，突发奇想，想用这颗价值连城的夜明珠去打麻雀。他举起夜明珠，瞄准目标，用力一掷。麻雀受惊飞走了，夜明珠却滚落到院子角落里，摔了个粉碎。财主心疼不已，后悔莫及。
Once upon a time, there was a very stingy rich man who owned countless treasures but was unwilling to use them. One day, he accidentally obtained a priceless night pearl. The rich man loved it very much and played with it every day. One day, he saw a few sparrows playing in the yard and had a whimsical idea to shoot sparrows with this priceless night pearl. He picked up the pearl, aimed at his target, and threw it with force. The sparrows were startled and flew away, but the night pearl rolled into the corner of the yard and shattered into pieces. The rich man was very sad and regretted it very much.
Usage
明珠弹雀通常用来比喻做事方法不当，或者得不偿失。
The idiom "Mingzhu Danque" is used to describe an inappropriate approach or a loss.
Examples
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他为了追求那一点微不足道的利益，不惜付出巨大的代价，真是明珠弹雀，得不偿失！
ta wei le zhuiqiu na yi dian weibazudude liyi, buxi fachu juda de daijia, zhen shi mingzhu danque, debuchangshi!
He was willing to pay a huge price for that tiny insignificant profit; it was like using pearls to shoot sparrows, a losing proposition!
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用这么贵重的材料做这种小物件，简直是明珠弹雀，太浪费了！
yong zheme guizhong de cailiao zuo zhe zhong xiaowujuan, jianzhi shi mingzhu danque, tai langfeile!
Using such expensive materials to make such small items is simply wasteful; so to speak using pearls to kill sparrows!