捡了芝麻丢了西瓜
jiǎn​le​zhī​ma​diū​le​xī​guā

penny wise and pound foolish

  1. 捡 撿 jiǎn verb
    to pick up
    to pick up; to collect; to gather
  2. 了 le particle
    [aspect marker]
    Placed after a verb or adjective to indicate the completion of an action or a change in state.
  3. 芝麻 zhī​ma noun
    sesame
    sesame; sesame seed
  4. 丢 丟 diū verb
    to lose
    to lose; to misplace; to be missing something through neglect or accident
  5. 了 le particle
    [aspect marker]
    Placed after a verb or adjective to indicate the completion of an action or a change in state.
  6. 西瓜 xī​guā noun
    watermelon
    watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), an annual herbaceous vine; also its large, sweet fruit, typically having a green rind and red or yellow flesh