半途而废
Bàn tú ér fèi
Literal Meaning:” To give up halfway through the journey.”
The phrase describes stopping or abandoning something before it is completed.
Figurative Meaning: It is used to criticize someone who starts a task or project but fails to see it through to the end. It emphasizes the importance of persistence and warns against quitting prematurely.
Usage Example: 他学钢琴学了半年就放弃了，真是半途而废。
Hanyu Pinying: Tā xué gāngqín xué le bàn nián jiù fàngqì le, zhēnshi bàn tú ér fèi.
English Meaning: He gave up learning the piano after only six months; he really quit halfway.
Bible Verse: 1 Corinthians 9:24 (NIV): “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”
This verse emphasizes finishing what you start and not giving up before reaching the goal – the opposite of 半途而废.
Personal Reflection: Recently, the family took a trip to Malacca. We saw a partially completed project, but it seemed abandoned for a while. That turn out to be the Harbour City Pulau Melaka.
The plans were grand. It was going to transform tourism for the city with a resort, an ocean-themed water park, and a luxury mall.
For whatever reason, it now stands abandoned, and instead of being a tourist attraction, it is now an eyesore in the seaside skyline.
On a personal level, starting something is easy. Following through, staying the course and completing is even more important.
“Father, teach me to count my cost before I begin. More importantly, help me be faithful, so that I can bring my work to completion.”
