画蛇添足
画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú) literally means “draw snake add feet” and expresses “ruin by adding extras”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: hua she tian zu, hua she tian zu,画蛇添足 meaning, 画蛇添足 in english
Ruin by adding extras
Pronunciation: huà shé tiān zú
Literal meaning: Draw snake add feet
Origin & Usage
The ancient parable tells of an artist who lost a wine-drinking contest because he spent extra time adding legs to his snake drawing (画蛇添足). The story entered common usage during the Han Dynasty as a warning against ruining sufficiency through unnecessary additions. Today it reminds us how overelaboration often diminishes rather than enhances.
Examples
English: "The excessive explanations only confused the simple concept"
Chinese: 过多的解释反而让简单的概念变得混乱
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 画蛇添足 mean in English?
画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú) literally translates to “Draw snake add feet” and is used to express “Ruin by adding extras”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 画蛇添足 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving ruin by adding extras.
What is the pinyin for 画蛇添足?
The pinyin pronunciation for 画蛇添足 is “huà shé tiān zú”.