拔苗助长
拔苗助长 (bá miáo zhù zhǎng) literally means “pull seedlings help growth” and expresses “ruin through impatient intervention”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
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Ruin through impatient intervention
Pronunciation: bá miáo zhù zhǎng
Literal meaning: Pull seedlings help growth
Origin & Usage
This agricultural idiom describes the counterproductive action of pulling up (拔) seedlings (苗) to help (助) their growth (长), originating from Mencius's writings during the Warring States period. He recounted a story of an impatient farmer who, unsatisfied with his seedlings' slow growth, pulled them slightly upward each day, ultimately killing them. The tale emerged from agrarian society where understanding natural growth cycles was essential. During the Han Dynasty, the story became a standard teaching example in governance texts, warning against forced implementation of policies before conditions were ready. Modern usage criticizes well-intentioned but harmful interventions that interrupt natural development processes, particularly relevant in education, parenting, and organizational development.
Examples
English: "The overanxious parent's excessive intervention harmed the child's natural development"
Chinese: 过于焦虑的父母过度干预损害了孩子的自然发展
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 拔苗助长 mean in English?
拔苗助长 (bá miáo zhù zhǎng) literally translates to “Pull seedlings help growth” and is used to express “Ruin through impatient intervention”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 拔苗助长 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving ruin through impatient intervention.
What is the pinyin for 拔苗助长?
The pinyin pronunciation for 拔苗助长 is “bá miáo zhù zhǎng”.