diu1 zeot1 bou2 ce1丟卒保車丢卒保车
Jyutpingdiu1 zeot1 bou2 ce1
Yaledīu jēut bóu chē
Definition
To sacrifice a minor piece to save a major one; to make a small sacrifice to safeguard a greater interest.
colloquialother
How it's used
Originating from Chinese chess, this idiom describes a calculated sacrifice where one gives up something of lesser value to protect a more critical asset. It is frequently applied in business or political contexts to describe damage control strategies. Unlike simply losing something, the term implies a deliberate, rational choice made under pressure.
Examples
The situation is critical now, we have no choice but to sacrifice the minor to save the major.
Are you planning to sacrifice the minor to save the major and give up that project?
Related words
Common phrases
have no choice but to sacrifice the minor to save the major
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
