bàntú'érfèi: 半途而废 - Give Up Halfway, Leave Something Unfinished

• Keywords: bàntú'érfèi, 半途而废, give up halfway, leave something unfinished, quit halfway, Chinese idiom for quitting, perseverance, persistence, determination, Chinese proverb, chengyu
• Summary: Discover the meaning of bàntú'érfèi (半途而废), a common Chinese idiom (chengyu) used to describe the act of giving up on a task or journey after it has already begun. This page explores its literal meaning, “to abandon on the halfway point of the road,” its cultural roots in the value of perseverance, and how to use it correctly in modern conversation. Learn why simply quitting isn't the same as bàntú'érfèi and avoid common mistakes English speakers make.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bàntú'érfèi
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (成语) / Idiom (often functions as a verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To stop halfway; to leave a task unfinished.
• In a Nutshell: 半途而废 (bàntú'érfèi) paints a vivid picture of someone walking down a road, getting halfway to their destination, and then simply stopping and turning back. It's not just about quitting; it's about quitting after significant effort has already been invested, thus wasting all the work done so far. It carries a strong negative connotation of lacking determination, willpower, and follow-through.

• 半 (bàn): Half; in the middle.
• 途 (tú): Road; path; journey.
• 而 (ér): A grammatical particle that connects the preceding and following clauses, here meaning something like “and then” or “but.”
• 废 (fèi): To abandon; to abolish; to waste; to become useless.

These characters combine literally to mean “to get halfway down the road and then abandon it.” This imagery is the core of the idiom's meaning: abandoning an endeavor after it's already underway.

The idiom 半途而废 (bàntú'érfèi) is deeply woven into the Chinese cultural emphasis on 毅力 (yìlì) - perseverance and 有始有终 (yǒushǐ yǒuzhōng) - finishing what one starts. These are not just positive traits but are often seen as moral virtues. This idiom is famously associated with the story of Lè Yángzǐ (乐羊子) from the Book of the Later Han (后汉书). Lè Yángzǐ was a scholar who left home to study. After only one year, he returned, homesick. His wife, who had been weaving silk, took a knife and cut the fabric in half on her loom. She told him, “My cutting this silk is like you abandoning your studies. If you give up halfway, all your previous effort is wasted.” Ashamed, Lè Yángzǐ returned to his studies and did not come back for seven years, eventually becoming a great official. This story highlights the cultural weight of the idiom. 半途而废 is not a neutral, strategic decision like it can be in the West. While an American entrepreneur might be praised for “failing fast” to cut losses on a bad idea, the traditional Chinese perspective sees 半途而废 as a failure of character. It represents a waste of resources, time, and—most importantly—initial resolve.

半途而废 is a formal idiom, but it's widely understood and used in everyday conversation. Its connotation is almost always negative and critical.

• In Education: Teachers and parents frequently use this idiom to admonish or encourage students. For example, “学习要坚持，不能半途而废。” (Xuéxí yào jiānchí, bùnéng bàntú'érfèi.) - “You must persist in your studies; you can't give up halfway.”
• In Personal Development: It's often used as a form of self-motivation or self-criticism. Someone might tell themselves, “我已经付出了这么多努力，现在放弃就是半途而废。” (Wǒ yǐjīng fùchūle zhème duō nǔlì, xiànzài fàngqì jiùshì bàntú'érfèi.) - “I've already put in so much effort; giving up now would be leaving it all unfinished.”
• In the Workplace: A manager might criticize a team or project for being 半途而废, meaning it was started with enthusiasm but abandoned due to difficulties, poor planning, or a lack of follow-through.

• Example 1:
  • 做事情贵在坚持，千万不要半途而废。
  • Pinyin: Zuò shìqing guì zài jiānchí, qiānwàn bùyào bàntú'érfèi.
  • English: The most important thing in doing anything is persistence; you must not give up halfway.
  • Analysis: This is a classic piece of advice, emphasizing the cultural value of persistence. 贵在 (guì zài) means “the value lies in…”
• Example 2:
  • 他学中文的热情很高，但总是半途而废，所以到现在水平还很低。
  • Pinyin: Tā xué Zhōngwén de rèqíng hěn gāo, dàn zǒngshì bàntú'érfèi, suǒyǐ dào xiànzài shuǐpíng hái hěn dī.
  • English: His enthusiasm for learning Chinese is high, but he always gives up halfway, so his level is still very low.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly uses the idiom to criticize a lack of consistent effort, a very common context for language learners.
• Example 3:
  • 这个项目很重要，我们不能因为遇到一点困难就半途而废。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù hěn zhòngyào, wǒmen bùnéng yīnwèi yùdào yīdiǎn kùnnan jiù bàntú'érfèi.
  • English: This project is very important; we can't just leave it unfinished because we ran into a few difficulties.
  • Analysis: A common usage in a business or team setting, used to rally people and encourage them to overcome obstacles.
• Example 4:
  • 我警告你，如果你这次再半途而废，我就再也不相信你了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jǐnggào nǐ, rúguǒ nǐ zhè cì zài bàntú'érfèi, wǒ jiù zài yě bù xiāngxìn nǐ le.
  • English: I'm warning you, if you give up halfway again this time, I will never trust you again.
  • Analysis: This shows the serious, negative connotation of the idiom. It can imply a character flaw that breaks trust.
• Example 5:
  • 减肥需要毅力，很多人一开始信心满满，最后都半途而废了。
  • Pinyin: Jiǎnféi xūyào yìlì, hěn duō rén yī kāishǐ xìnxīn mǎnmǎn, zuìhòu dōu bàntú'érfèi le.
  • English: Losing weight requires perseverance; many people are full of confidence at the beginning but end up quitting halfway.
  • Analysis: A relatable, everyday example. Note the use of 了 (le) to indicate the completed (or in this case, un-completed) action.
• Example 6:
  • 我告诉自己，无论学习过程多辛苦，我都不能半途而废。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gàosù zìjǐ, wúlùn xuéxí guòchéng duō xīnkǔ, wǒ dōu bùnéng bàntú'érfèi.
  • English: I told myself that no matter how hard the learning process is, I cannot give up halfway.
  • Analysis: This is a great example of using the idiom for self-motivation.
• Example 7:
  • 他们曾经的创业梦想因为资金问题而半途而废了。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen céngjīng de chuàngyè mèngxiǎng yīnwèi zījīn wèntí ér bàntú'érfèi le.
  • English: Their past entrepreneurial dream was abandoned halfway due to funding issues.
  • Analysis: The structure 因为…而… (yīnwèi…ér…) is used to give the reason for the action. Here, the idiom acts as the result.
• Example 8:
  • 修复那座古老的寺庙是一项巨大的工程，绝不能半途而废。
  • Pinyin: Xiūfù nà zuò gǔlǎo de sìmiào shì yī xiàng jùdà de gōngchéng, jué bùnéng bàntú'érfèi.
  • English: Restoring that ancient temple is a massive project; it absolutely cannot be left unfinished.
  • Analysis: 绝不 (jué bù) means “absolutely not,” adding a strong sense of command and gravity.
• Example 9:
  • 你为什么总是半途而废？难道你对自己没有一点要求吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme zǒngshì bàntú'érfèi? Nándào nǐ duì zìjǐ méiyǒu yīdiǎn yāoqiú ma?
  • English: Why do you always give up halfway? Don't you have any standards for yourself?
  • Analysis: A very direct and critical question, highlighting how pointed this idiom can be.
• Example 10:
  • 他做事从来都是有始有终，从不半途而废。
  • Pinyin: Tā zuò shì cónglái dōushì yǒushǐyǒuzhōng, cóngbù bàntú'érfèi.
  • English: He always sees things through from beginning to end when he does something; he never gives up halfway.
  • Analysis: This sentence contrasts 半途而废 with its direct antonym, 有始有终 (yǒushǐyǒuzhōng), which is a great way to learn both.

• Mistake 1: Using it for something not yet started.
  • Incorrect: 我还没开始学，但我怕我会半途而废。(Wǒ hái méi kāishǐ xué, dàn wǒ pà wǒ huì bàntú'érfèi.)
  • Reason: 半途 (bàntú) means “halfway.” You cannot be “halfway” through something you haven't begun. The idiom implies that a process is already underway.
  • Correct: 我怕我开始学了以后会半途而废。(Wǒ pà wǒ kāishǐ xuéle yǐhòu huì bàntú'érfèi.) - “I'm afraid that after I start learning, I will give up halfway.”
• Mistake 2: Confusing it with the general verb “to give up” (放弃 fàngqì).
  • 半途而废 is a specific, negative type of giving up. 放弃 (fàngqì) is a neutral, general term.
  • You can 放弃 a bad habit, which is positive: 我放弃了抽烟 (Wǒ fàngqìle chōuyān - I quit smoking). You would never say 我半途而废了抽烟.
  • You can 放弃 one opportunity for a better one: 我放弃了这份工作，因为我找到了更好的 (Wǒ fàngqìle zhè fèn gōngzuò, yīnwèi wǒ zhǎodàole gèng hǎo de - I gave up this job because I found a better one). Using 半途而废 here would incorrectly imply you failed at the job.
• Key Nuance: The term implies wasted effort and a lack of character. It's not a strategic retreat; it's a failure of will. Therefore, only use it when you want to convey this specific critical meaning.

• 坚持不懈 (jiānchí bùxiè) - Antonym. To persevere unremittingly; to be relentless in one's efforts.
• 有始有终 (yǒushǐ yǒuzhōng) - Antonym. “To have a beginning and have an end.” To see things through; to finish what one starts. The direct opposite virtue.
• 三天打鱼，两天晒网 (sān tiān dǎ yú, liǎng tiān shài wǎng) - Synonym/Related. “Fish for three days, dry the nets for two.” Describes an inconsistent effort, a lack of perseverance, and a tendency to work by fits and starts. It's a close cousin to 半途而废.
• 浅尝辄止 (qiǎncháng zhézhǐ) - Related Concept. “To stop after a shallow taste.” To not delve deeply into a subject; to be content with a superficial understanding. This is about lack of depth, whereas 半途而废 is about lack of completion.
• 毅力 (yìlì) - Related Noun. The core quality of perseverance and willpower. A lack of 毅力 is what leads to 半途而废.
• 放弃 (fàngqì) - General Verb. The neutral, all-purpose verb for “to give up” or “to abandon.” 半途而废 is a highly specific and negative form of 放弃.
• 前功尽弃 (qiángōng jìnqì) - Synonym/Related. “All previous efforts are wasted.” This idiom focuses on the result of giving up halfway—that all prior work is lost. It's often used alongside 半途而废.