Meaning
This chengyu literally means 'to abandon (something) halfway along the road.' It describes giving up on a task, project, or goal before completion. The idiom emphasizes the waste and regret that comes from not persevering through to the end.
Usage
Native speakers use this idiom to criticize lack of perseverance or to warn against quitting prematurely. It commonly appears in motivational contexts, educational settings, and discussions about personal development. Often paired with negative constructions like 不能半途而废 (cannot give up halfway).
Examples
- 01学习外语最忌讳半途而废,只有坚持不懈才能取得成功。, .When learning a foreign language, the greatest taboo is giving up halfway; only by persevering unremittingly can one achieve success.
- 02这个项目已经进行了三年,我们绝不能半途而废。, .This project has already been underway for three years; we absolutely cannot abandon it midway.
Characters
Common collocations
- 不能半途而废must not give up halfway
- 决不半途而废definitely will not abandon midway
Antonyms
Origin
The idiom originates from ancient Chinese literature, where 途 (road/journey) serves as a metaphor for any undertaking or endeavor. The structure 而废 creates the meaning of abandonment as a consequence of being only halfway (半途) through.