偷鸡不成蚀把米
Tōu jī bù chéng shí bǎ mǐ
"Failed to steal the chicken and lost the rice used as bait"
Character Analysis
Steal (偷) chicken (鸡) not (不) succeed (成), lose/consume (蚀) a handful (把) of rice (米). One sets out to gain something through dishonest or risky means, but ends up losing what one already had.
Meaning & Significance
This proverb captures the ironic calculus of greed and scheming—when the pursuit of ill-gotten gains leads to legitimate losses. It serves as a warning about the hidden costs of deception and the tendency of greedy schemes to backfire spectacularly.
Some failures are almost fun to watch. You know the type—someone hatches a clever scheme, puts in all this effort, and ends up worse off than when they started. That’s what this proverb captures. You went for the chicken. You lost your rice.
Character Breakdown
偷 (tōu) — to steal, to secretly take; implies dishonest acquisition 鸡 (jī) — chicken; the desired prize 不 (bù) — not; negation 成 (chéng) — to succeed, accomplish, achieve 蚀 (shí) — to lose, erode, eat into; the depletion of resources 把 (bǎ) — a handful, a grasp; a measure word suggesting small quantity 米 (mǐ) — rice; the bait sacrificed in the failed attempt
The image is vivid and rural: a would-be thief scatters rice to lure a chicken, crouches in wait, lunges—and misses. The chicken escapes, the rice is scattered beyond recovery, and the schemer walks home empty-handed, having lost even the modest capital they invested in their scheme.
Historical Context
This one comes from farm life. Chickens meant eggs, meat, and future chicks—serious value. Rice was daily survival. So picture it: you scatter rice to lure a chicken, crouch there waiting, lunge—and miss. The chicken bolts. Your rice is scattered in the dirt. You walk home with nothing, having lost even your investment.
Ming and Qing dynasty writers loved this phrase. It shows up in novels, folk songs, marketplace arguments. There’s something deeply Chinese about its skepticism toward clever schemes. Other traditions celebrate the trickster. Chinese folk wisdom tends to say: elaborate plans blow up in your face.
Philosophy
Game theorists call it “negative expected value”—when potential losses outweigh potential gains. But the proverb adds something: greed makes us terrible at calculating odds. We see that chicken and fixate. The risk of losing rice? Barely registers.
The Greeks had Icarus flying too close to the sun. Same warning about overreaching, but the Chinese version feels earthier. Less tragic hero, more embarrassed would-be thief. There’s something satisfying about that.
The Dao De Jing says “the more clever people are, the more strange things appear.” Translation: cleverness backfires. Especially dishonest cleverness. Just work for what you need. Skip the schemes.
Modern behavioral economics confirms this. We underestimate risks when we want something badly. That chicken looks so close. What could go wrong?
And yeah, there’s a karmic vibe here. Try to gain through deception, end up with less than you started. The universe has a sense of humor.
Usage Examples
Describing failed schemes:
“他想骗保险金，结果被发现了，还赔了罚款。真是偷鸡不成蚀把米。” “He tried to cheat the insurance, got caught, and had to pay a fine. Truly a case of trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice.”
Warning against risky behavior:
“别做这种投机的事情，小心偷鸡不成蚀把米。” “Don’t engage in such speculation—be careful you don’t try to steal a chicken and lose your rice.”
Political commentary:
“那位候选人想抹黑对手，结果反而暴露了自己的丑闻。偷鸡不成蚀把米。” “That candidate tried to smear their opponent, but instead exposed their own scandal. Failed to steal the chicken, lost the rice.”
Self-deprecating reflection:
“我本来想省钱自己修电脑，结果把电脑彻底弄坏了。偷鸡不成蚀把米啊。” “I wanted to save money by fixing the computer myself, but I broke it completely. Tried to steal the chicken, lost the rice.”
Tattoo Recommendation
This one’s for people who’ve learned the hard way. You tried something clever. It blew up. Now you’re wiser (and poorer).
Verdict: Good for reformed schemers.
The tattoo works best if you’ve actually lived this proverb—tried a shortcut, paid the price. It’s a mark of self-awareness. Also a reminder: next time, take the honest path.
Configuration options:
Full proverb (7 characters): 偷鸡不成蚀把米 Compact enough for forearm, calf, or along the collarbone.
Condensed (4 characters): 鸡飞米散 (jī fēi mǐ sàn) — “Chicken flies, rice scatters” Captures the visual essence of the failed attempt.
Abstract (4 characters): 贪必失 (tān bì shī) — “Greed necessarily loses” Distills the moral without the agricultural imagery.
Visual elements: Some incorporate imagery of scattered rice grains, a fleeing chicken silhouette, or a figure with empty hands. The visual can be playful or mournful depending on the artistic approach.
Caution: You’re tattooing “I tried to be clever and it backfired” on your body. Own that. Some will see it as confessing past dishonesty. Others will get it.