打蛇不死，后患无穷
dǎ​shé​bù​sǐ​hòu​huàn​wú​qióng

spare the snake and face the consequences

打蛇不死，后患无穷 打蛇不死，後患無窮 dǎ​shé​bù​sǐ​hòu​huàn​wú​qióng
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.