[偷鸡不成蚀把米 / 偷雞不成蝕把米, tōu jī bù chéng shí bǎ mǐㄊㄡ ㄐㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄕˊ ㄅㄚˇ ㄇㄧˇ] trying to steal a chicken, but only lost a handful of rice (俗语 common expression); having high aims, but a total failure, See Also: 俗语#111919
[偷鸡不着蚀把米 / 偷雞不著蝕把米, tōu jī bù zháo shí bǎ mǐㄊㄡ ㄐㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄠˊ ㄕˊ ㄅㄚˇ ㄇㄧˇ] trying to steal a chicken, but only lost a handful of rice (俗语 common expression); having high aims, but a total failure, See Also: 俗语#202660
[toshite] (exp) (1) as (i.e. in the role of); for (i.e. from the viewpoint of); (2) apart from... (used to change the topic); (3) (before a negative form) even (e.g. "not even a single person"); (4) (See とする・1) (after a volitional form) thinking that...; trying to...; (P)#33
[はいていらおゆえ, haiteiraoyue] (n) totally useless (fruitless) effort; wasting time on an impossible task (like trying to scoop up a reflected moon from the bottom of the sea)
[さかごたいそう, sakagotaisou] (n) exercise regime to convert breech presentation; trying to correct an unborn child's improper position so that the head comes out first
[きょうかくさつぎゅう, kyoukakusatsugyuu] (exp) trying to straighten the horns of a bull, and killing it in the process; trying to correct a small defect and ruining the whole thing; The cure is worse than the disease