Translation guide
To be in a disadvantageous position or receive an unfair outcome, often compared to others.
Expressing that someone got a worse deal or outcome than others in a situation.
A common idiom meaning to get the short end of the stick, to be at a disadvantage, or to suffer a loss in a deal or situation.
When someone is treated unfairly compared to others in a group, often in work or social settings.
Means that the negative effects or burdens are pushed onto someone. Often used when a weak person or group bears the brunt of a problem.
Do not translate 'stick' literally. The English idiom has no direct equivalent involving a stick in Japanese. Use the phrases above instead.
割を食う implies a comparison with others who got a better deal, while 損をする simply means to lose out, not necessarily in comparison. Use 割を食う when the unfairness relative to others is key.
He always gets the short end of the stick.
In this deal, our company got the short end of the stick.
A straightforward way to say 'to lose out' or 'to be at a loss'. Less idiomatic than 割を食う but very common.
Only he got the short end of the stick.
Literally 'to be put in a disadvantageous position'. More formal and descriptive.
He is always put at a disadvantage.
Literally 'to draw the poverty lot'. A colloquial idiom meaning to get the worst of it or the short end of the stick. Slightly old-fashioned.
I got the short end of the stick again.
The short end of the stick from restructuring always goes to the lower-level employees.
Also works here, emphasizing the disadvantageous outcome.
The more serious you are, the more you get the short end of the stick.