ㄍㄨㄥgōngㄎㄨㄟkuīㄎㄨㄟˋkuì

  1. 一座土山最後不能成功書經·》:為山九仞,功虧一簣。」比喻事情不能堅持到底最後步驟功敗垂成晉書···》:始終功虧一簣殘賊。」半途而廢功敗垂成前功盡棄堅持不懈善始善終

lit. to ruin the enterprise for the sake of one basketful, to fail through lack of a final effort, to spoil the ship for a ha'penny worth of tar (idiom)​
(expr. idiom.)​ échouer à un doigt du succès, faire naufrage au port