Definition
功败垂成 is a classical chengyu that describes the bitter moment when a project, career, or major effort collapses just shy of success — failure at the final step when victory seemed certain. The tone is always one of regret and lament. You can use it as a predicate (项目的功败垂成) or as a nominal phrase. Avoid using it for trivial tasks; it implies large-scale undertakings and a sense of historical pathos.
f.e.
to fail when on the verge of successto fall short at the last moment
Examples
- ，功败垂成，。Tā kǔliàn le duō nián, què zài juésài zhōng gōng bài chuí chéng, yíhàn tuìyì.He trained hard for years, but failed on the verge of success in the final and retired with regret.
- 功败垂成，。Gōngsī de zhè cì kuòzhāng jìhuà yīn zījīn duànliè ér gōng bài chuí chéng, shízài kěxī.The company's expansion plan failed at the last moment due to a funding gap, which is really a pity.
- 功败垂成。Lìshǐ shàng bùshǎo gǎigé dōu yīnwèi bǎoshǒu shìlì zǔ'ér gōng bài chuí chéng.In history, many reforms failed on the verge of success because of obstruction from conservative forces.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.