Meaning of 失之东隅，收之桑榆
失之东隅，收之桑榆 means to lose at sunrise but gain at sunset; to suffer a loss in one respect but make up for it in another; to lose at one end and gain at the other. Pronounced shī zhī dōng yú , shōu zhī sāng yú.
- to lose at sunrise but gain at sunset; to suffer a loss in one respect but make up for it in another; to lose at one end and gain at the other
Definitions & Examples
Suī虽
rán然
zhè这
cì次
tóu投
zī资
shī失
lì利
le了
，
dàn但
shī失
zhī之
dōng东
yú隅
，
shōu收
zhī之
sāng桑
yú榆
，
wǒ我
men们
zài在
qí其
tā他
xiàng项
mù目
shàng上
zhuàn赚
huí回
le了
chéng成
běn本
。
Although we suffered losses in this investment, we made up for it by recouping the costs in other projects.
Tā他
zǎo早
nián年
shì事
yè业
bù不
shùn顺
，
dàn但
shī失
zhī之
dōng东
yú隅
，
shōu收
zhī之
sāng桑
yú榆
，
wǎn晚
nián年
shēng生
huó活
shí十
fēn分
xìng幸
fú福
。
His career did not go well in his early years, but he found happiness in his later life.
Zhè这
cì次
jìng竞
xuǎn选
shī失
bài败
le了
，
dàn但
shī失
zhī之
dōng东
yú隅
，
shōu收
zhī之
sāng桑
yú榆
，
tā他
yīn因
cǐ此
bèi被
tuī推
jiàn荐
dào到
le了
gèng更
hǎo好
de的
zhí职
wèi位
。
He failed in this election, but as one door closed, another opened, and he was recommended for an even better position.