半途而废

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: bàn tú ér fèi
• English Translation: To give up halfway, to abandon something unfinished
• Idiom Composition: 「半」（Halfway）＋「途」（Road, path）＋「而」（And, thereby）＋「废」（To abandon, to give up）
• Meaning: To give up on something halfway without completing it.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「半途而废」 contains the following nuances:

• Incomplete: Describes a state where something is not completed or a goal has not been achieved.
• Abandonment: Means giving up efforts or undertakings halfway.
• Lack of perseverance: Suggests an inability to persist in tasks, a lack of patience or perseverance.
• Negative evaluation: Often carries a negative evaluation, expressing blame or disappointment.

3. Usage

「半途而废」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Evaluating actions: Used to critically evaluate someone's actions or endeavors that were left unfinished.
  • Example:「他学日语总是半途而废，从来没有坚持到最后。」
    （He always gives up halfway when studying Japanese and has never persevered to the end.）
• Lesson or admonition: Used to teach the importance of completing tasks and to warn against leaving things unfinished.
  • Example:「无论做什么事情，都要有始有终，不能半途而废。」
    （No matter what you do, you must see it through from beginning to end; you cannot give up halfway.）
• Self-reflection: Can also be used to reflect on one's own actions and express remorse.
  • Example:「我曾经尝试过很多事情，但都半途而废了，真是惭愧。」
    （I have tried many things, but I gave up halfway on all of them; I am truly ashamed.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这个项目已经投入了大量资金，我们不能半途而废。
   （A large amount of capital has already been invested in this project; we cannot abandon it halfway.）
2. 他减肥总是半途而废，所以一直瘦不下来。
   （He always gives up halfway on his diet, so he can't lose weight.）
3. 虽然遇到了很多困难，但她并没有半途而废，而是坚持到了最后。
   （Although she encountered many difficulties, she did not give up halfway but persevered to the end.）
4. 学习一门外语需要持之以恒，不能半途而废。
   （Learning a foreign language requires perseverance; you cannot give up halfway.）
5. 他曾经立志成为一名作家，但写了几篇小说后就半途而废了。
   （He once aspired to be a writer, but after writing a few novels, he gave up halfway.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Value of '有始有终' (yǒu shǐ yǒu zhōng - to see something through from beginning to end): In traditional Chinese culture, the value of '有始有终' has been emphasized. '半途而废' is viewed negatively as an act that goes against this value.
• Spirit of '锲而不舍' (qiè bù shě - to persevere): The negative connotation of '半途而废' is further emphasized when contrasted with '锲而不舍', which highlights the importance of persistent effort (literally, 'to carve without giving up').

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 功亏一篑 (gōng kuī yí kuì): To fail within sight of success.
  • 有始无终 (yǒu shǐ wú zhōng): To start something but not finish it, to leave things incomplete.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 善始善终 (shàn shǐ shàn zhōng): To do well from beginning to end, to see something through to a good conclusion.
  • 持之以恒 (chí zhī yǐ héng): To persevere, to make persistent efforts.

6. Summary

'半途而废' is an idiom deeply connected to the traditional Chinese value of '有始有终' (seeing things through from beginning to end). This phrase not only describes something being left unfinished but also carries a critical connotation of lacking effort, perseverance, or weak will towards achieving a goal. Understanding the cultural background of this idiom will allow for a deeper comprehension of the Chinese language.