the operation was a success but the patient died

Chinese translation: 本末倒置

02:53 Oct 15, 2006
English to Chinese translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Military / Defense
English term or phrase: the operation was a success but the patient died
...and sometimes it seems that in choosing a purely military response to threats of international security, we get situations like the old saying “the operation was a success but the patient died”, that we create more suffering and more insecurity by using old techniques....
xtang
Japan
Local time: 21:30
Chinese translation:本末倒置
Explanation:
挽救病人是目標,是本。手術做得更好,但是不能挽救病人,亦無用。

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Note added at 1 day17 hrs (2006-10-16 20:52:15 GMT)
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暴君被推翻了,但人民受痛苦比以前更多、更劇。
Selected response from:

pkchan
United States
Local time: 08:30
Grading comment
多谢。
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3拔苗助长/治病害人
Aaron Gilkison (X)
4 +1本末倒置
pkchan
4事与愿违
Jianming Sun
4IMHO
Philip Tang
4病人死于成功的手术刀下
Lu Wang
3手术成功病人亡
Hualong Jiang
3欲速则不达
Xiangdong Zhuo
3吃力不讨好
Jin Chong
2剑断人亡
wendychee (X)
1惨胜
chica nueva


  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
手术成功病人亡


Explanation:
I think so

Hualong Jiang
China
Local time: 20:30
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
拔苗助长/治病害人


Explanation:
Mr. Luo's answer is a more than adequate literal translation. Since this is a figure of speech, however, maybe you could go with a less literal translation... something along the lines of 拔苗助长。Or maybe be creative with something like 治病害人。。。

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Note added at 1 hr (2006-10-15 04:26:26 GMT)
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My apologies, Mr. Long... not Mr. Luo's answer, Mr. Long's.....

Aaron Gilkison (X)
United States
Local time: 08:30
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Philip Tang: You are absolutely right! literal translation won't do the job!
15 hrs
  -> thank you!

agree  Siaoning Jhang: I think 治病害人 is a very good one.
1 day 3 hrs
  -> thank you!

agree  Jennifer Li (X): keeping the ironic tone of the ST ...
3 days 6 hrs
  -> thank you!
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
事与愿违


Explanation:
If you asked for a Chinese idiom for it.

Jianming Sun
Local time: 20:30
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 19
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
惨胜


Explanation:
更新:全文翻译:毛:不为人知的故 - [ Translate this page ]The 'win' was in fact a Pyrrhic victory. Peng De-huai recorded 'great losses' in his corps. ... 这场战争的胜利实际上是一场代价高昂的“惨胜”,彭德怀称其军团“损失惨重”:“只有一个团保持完整的建制。。。每连只剩下50-60人。 ...
www.peacehall.com/forum/qglt/9259.shtml - 33k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages


打印文章 - [ Translate this page ]皮拉斯的胜利在鱼缸用药去击败白点,往往属皮拉斯的胜利Pyrrhic victory。 公元前二七九年,在奥斯库卢姆Asculum之役中,希腊将领皮 ... such victory and we are ruined.再有一次这样的胜利,我们就完蛋了。」 皮拉斯胜利,即得不偿失的胜利,或为惨胜。 ...
www.yfsz.com/Article/Print.asp?ArticleID=113 - 23k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2006-10-15 05:40:46 GMT)
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none of these quite fit 反正...:

在你生命的每一天,新世纪家园[www.qfxl.com]都伴随你,祝你好运! - [ Translate this page ]也就是马上进研究所「go to graduate school right away」) (16) Don't cut off your (one's) nose to spite your (one's) face.照字面的意思是:不要割破你的鼻子,而动怒了你的脸孔。也就是说,不要因为一时对他人动怒,反而害了自己。 ...
novel.jschina.com.cn/knowledge/9/19664.htm - 14k - Cached - Similar pages


70.跟面孔赌气 - [ Translate this page ]Cut off one's nose to spite one's face是“跟自己的面孔赌气,把鼻子割下来”,那当然是愚不可及的。这成语现在常常用来说“为了泄愤或害人,反而害了自己”,例如:If you resign to inconvenience your boss,you are cutting off your nose to spite your ...
www.iselong.com/English/0007/7793.htm - 11k - Cached - Similar pages


多瑙河之野鸭 - [ Translate this page ]2006.10.06 Don't cut the bough you are standing on. 不要砍你正站着的树枝。(不要自断生路。) 2006.10.05 Don't cut off your nose to spite your face. 不要割下自己的鼻子来和脸过不去。(不要和自己过不去。) 2006.10.04 Don't cry over spilt milk. ...
donau.spaces.live.com/ - 87k - 13 Oct 2006 - Cached - Similar pages



chica nueva
Local time: 01:30
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
欲速则不达


Explanation:
May sound in this context but for some extending meaning.
FYI

Xiangdong Zhuo
China
Local time: 20:30
Native speaker of: Chinese
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
吃力不讨好


Explanation:
就是干了也白干的意思

Jin Chong
Local time: 20:30
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
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17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
IMHO


Explanation:
I think the saying of “the operation was a success but the patient died” Is trying to portrait a situation that

“We often think that we are doing the right things, but not getting the expected result!”, or
“Unilateral opinion (or decision) often yields opposite result”

It may also suggest that “Some of the world’s disasters start with good intentions”, and I interpret these as

“按章辦事往往可致人於死地”

“單邊的行動實非治本之良藥”


Philip Tang
China
Local time: 20:30
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ChineseChinese
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19 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
剑断人亡


Explanation:
只是个猜测.

wendychee (X)
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1 day 17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
本末倒置


Explanation:
挽救病人是目標,是本。手術做得更好,但是不能挽救病人,亦無用。

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day17 hrs (2006-10-16 20:52:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

暴君被推翻了,但人民受痛苦比以前更多、更劇。

pkchan
United States
Local time: 08:30
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
多谢。

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  wherestip: pk, good translation that captures the real meaning
1 day 16 hrs
  -> 謝謝
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2 days 9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
病人死于成功的手术刀下


Explanation:
我来凑个热闹。正如智者早已说过的那样:“病人死于成功的手术刀下”,这是多么具有讽刺意味啊。

Lu Wang
Local time: 20:30
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
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