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失之東隅，收之桑榆

简失之东隅，收之桑榆 · 繁失之東隅，收之桑榆

Mandarin · pinyin shī zhī dōng yú , shōu zhī sāng yú

to lose at sunrise but gain at sunset (idiom)
to compensate later for one's earlier loss
what you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts

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Characters in this entry

失: shī · lose; make mistake, neglect
之: zhī · marks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase; it, him her, them; go to
東: dōng · east, eastern, eastward
隅: yú · corner, nook, remote place
收: shōu · gather together, collect; harvest
桑: sāng · mulberry tree; surname
榆: yú · elm tree
东: dōng · east, eastern, eastward

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