gōng功achievementkuī亏failyī一onekuì篑basket
To fall short of success for lack of a final effort; to fail within an inch of success.
Literal meaning
achievement (功) — fail (亏) — one (一) — basket (篑)
Origin
Attributed to the *Book of Documents*, likening the failure to complete a mound of earth for lack of one basket of soil.
Examples
Yǎn眼kàn看jiù就yào要chéng成gōng功le了，rú如guǒ果xiàn现zài在fàng放qì弃，qǐ岂bù不shì是gōng功kuī亏yī一kuì篑？
Success is in sight; if we give up now, wouldn't it be a failure at the last step?
Jīng经guò过duō多nián年de的nǔ努lì力，tā他zhōng终yú于wán完chéng成le了zhè这xiàng项yán研jiū究，méi没yǒu有gōng功kuī亏yī一kuì篑。
After years of effort, he finally completed this research without failing at the last step.
Usage & nuances
Emphasizes the importance of perseverance to the very end.
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