后患无穷 hòuhuànwúqióng endless future trouble Definitions Defs Origin Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 打蛇不死,后患无穷 dǎshébùsǐhòuhuànwúqióng spare the snake and face the consequences If you hit a snake but do not kill it, endless trouble will follow; used to describe failing to finish off an enemy or problem completely, leading to future disaster.