Chinese idiom · 成语
功亏一篑
Meaning
To fail for lack of one basket; to fall short at the end.
Character by character
Origin and story
Literary expressionThe received Shangshu (尚書), Lü Ao (旅獒), warns that neglecting small details can damage great virtue. Its comparison is building an earthen mound nine ren high but failing because one basket of earth is missing. The final small amount matters because the undertaking remains incomplete without it.
The chapter frames this as an admonition to a ruler to remain diligent and careful, not as a report of a particular unfinished construction site. Later usage makes the image a general warning about failing just short of completion. The scale of previous effort only sharpens the regret that the last necessary step was left undone.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
申请材料都准备好了，别因为忘记提交而功亏一篑。
The application materials are ready; do not let all that effort fail because you forget to submit them.
For failure at the final necessary step, with a sense of regret.