# 功败垂成

gōng bài chuí chéng

Fail when success is almost achieved

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** An undertaking fails on the verge of completion

**Traditional Chinese:** 功敗垂成

**Register:** Regretful · formal

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Describe a painful last minute failure.

Does not specify the cause of failure.

## Understanding the expression

The work is so near completion that success seems within reach, yet something prevents the final result. The expression highlights that disappointing timing. Modern use suits competitions, negotiations, applications, and projects that fail late. Unlike a phrase focused on stopping too early, this one does not by itself explain who caused the loss. A mistake, outside event, or sudden change may all bring an undertaking down at the last moment.

## Examples

最后一分钟失误，让球队功败垂成。

### Traditional Chinese

最後一分鐘失誤，讓球隊功敗垂成。

zuì hòu yì fēn zhōng shī wù ， ràng qiú duì gōng bài chuí chéng 。

A last minute mistake cost the team near certain success.

谈判因新条件功败垂成。

### Traditional Chinese

談判因新條件功敗垂成。

tán pàn yīn xīn tiáo jiàn gōng bài chuí chéng 。

New conditions caused the nearly completed negotiation to fail.

她怕功败垂成，认真核对材料。

### Traditional Chinese

她怕功敗垂成，認真核對材料。

tā pà gōng bài chuí chéng ， rèn zhēn hé duì cái liào 。

She checks the documents carefully to avoid last minute failure.

项目在验收时功败垂成。

### Traditional Chinese

項目在驗收時功敗垂成。

xiàng mù zài yàn shōu shí gōng bài chuí chéng 。

The project failed at the final acceptance stage.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%8A%9F%E6%95%97%E5%9E%82%E6%88%90)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=222&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [功亏一篑 gōng kuī yī kuì Fail just before completing the work ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/gong-kui-yi-kui)

- [汗流浃背 hàn liú jiā bèi Be drenched in sweat ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/han-liu-jia-bei)

- [汗马功劳 hàn mǎ gōng láo Make an outstanding contribution through hard work ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/han-ma-gong-lao)

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