不得善終

不得善终
bùdéshànzhōng
  1. (literary) to die a miserable death
  2. (literary, figurative) to meet with a tragic end; to be done in; to not have a favorable outcome
  3. to die a miserable death
  4. to meet with a tragic end; to be done in; to not have a favorable outcome

Wiktionary

Entry Composition

=1 不得 bùdé
  1. must not
  2. may not
  3. not to be allowed
  4. cannot
=1 不得 bude complement placed after a verb to express impossibility or inability; cannot; be unable to
2 善終 shànzhōng
  1. to die naturally with dignity; to pass away peacefully
  2. (of partnerships, projects etc) to end well; to have a good ending