start but not finish; lack of perseverance
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to start something but not finish it; to lack perseverance; to leave things unfinished
Commonly used to criticize someone who begins tasks with enthusiasm but fails to complete them, or to warn against such behavior.
Tā他
zuò做
shì事
zǒng总
shì是
yǒu有
tóu头
wú无
wěi尾
，
suǒ所
yǐ以
shén什
me么
dōu都
méi没
zuò做
chéng成
。
He always starts things but doesn't finish them, so he never accomplishes anything.
Xué学
xí习
wài外
yǔ语
zuì最
jì忌
huì讳
yǒu有
tóu头
wú无
wěi尾
。
The worst thing when learning a foreign language is to start but not finish.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Zhè这
gè个
jì计
huà划
bù不
néng能
zuò做
de得
yǒu有
tóu头
wú无
wěi尾
，
wǒ我
men们
bì必
xū须
jiān坚
chí持
dào到
dǐ底
。
We can't leave this plan unfinished; we must persevere to the end.