# 功亏一篑

gōng kuī yī kuì

Fail just before completing the work

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Fall short by one basket of earth

**Traditional Chinese:** 功虧一簣

**Register:** Regretful · general

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

## When to use it

Describe failure caused by missing the final step.

Not a label for failure at an early stage.

## Understanding the expression

Imagine building a mound by carrying earth one basket at a time. If the last required basket never arrives, all the earlier labor fails to produce the completed result. The expression draws attention to the final step, however small it seems. It can warn against abandoning a nearly finished task or describe a late mistake. Its disappointment comes from the closeness of success, not simply from having worked hard.

## Examples

申请忘了提交附件，真是功亏一篑。

### Traditional Chinese

申請忘了提交附件，真是功虧一簣。

shēn qǐng wàng le tí jiāo fù jiàn ， zhēn shì gōng kuī yī kuì 。

Forgetting the attachment ruined the application at the last step.

已经跑到终点附近，别功亏一篑。

### Traditional Chinese

已經跑到終點附近，別功虧一簣。

yǐ jīng pǎo dào zhōng diǎn fù jìn ， bié gōng kuī yī kuì 。

You are near the finish; do not fall short now.

最后一道检查没做，项目功亏一篑。

### Traditional Chinese

最後一道檢查沒做，項目功虧一簣。

zuì hòu yí dào jiǎn chá méi zuò ， xiàng mù gōng kuī yī kuì 。

Skipping the final check spoiled the project at the end.

他耐心修完最后一页，避免了功亏一篑。

### Traditional Chinese

他耐心修完最後一頁，避免了功虧一簣。

tā nài xīn xiū wán zuì hòu yí yè ， bì miǎn le gōng kuī yī kuì 。

He patiently repaired the last page and avoided failing at the final step.

## 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%E8%99%A7%E4%B8%80%E7%B0%A3)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=57&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [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)

- [好逸恶劳 hào yì wù láo Prefer ease and avoid work ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/hao-yi-wu-lao)

- [厚积薄发 hòu jī bó fā Build a strong foundation before producing results ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/hou-ji-bo-fa)

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