多此一举
多此一举 (duō cǐ yī jǔ) literally means “take a superfluous action” and expresses “unnecessary action”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: duo ci yi ju, duo ci yi ju,多此一举 meaning, 多此一举 in english
Unnecessary action
Pronunciation: duō cǐ yī jǔ Literal meaning: Take a superfluous action
Origin & Usage
One (一) action (举) too many (多此). Chinese has a family of expressions for this and it is worth hearing the differences: 画蛇添足 is adding something that spoils the thing, while 多此一举 is milder and merely wasteful — the step that changed nothing either way. It is very often used of oneself, in the mild self-mockery of having gone back to check a door that was already locked, and it is among the most common phrases in ordinary speech.
Examples
English: "Adding more features to the software was just an unnecessary action that complicated things."
Chinese: 给软件添加更多功能只是多此一举。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
顾此失彼
gù cǐ shī bǐ
Unable to cover everything at once
Learn more →
乐此不疲
lè cǐ bù pí
Passionate engagement
Learn more →
好事多磨
hǎo shì duō mó
Good things come with setbacks
Learn more →
揠苗助长
yà miáo zhù zhǎng
Harmful interference ruins growth
Learn more →
举一反三
jǔ yī fǎn sān
Learn many from one example
Learn more →
一举两得
yī jǔ liǎng dé
Kill two birds with one stone
Learn more →
积少成多
jī shǎo chéng duō
Small amounts compound
Learn more →
博学多才
bó xué duō cái
Versatile and learned
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 多此一举 mean in English?
多此一举 (duō cǐ yī jǔ) literally translates to “Take a superfluous action” and is used to express “Unnecessary action”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 多此一举 used?
Situation: Adding more features to the software was just an unnecessary action that complicated things.
What is the pinyin for 多此一举?
The pinyin pronunciation for 多此一举 is “duō cǐ yī jǔ”.