多此一举

Pronunciation: duō cǐ yī jǔ Literal meaning: Take a superfluous action

Origin & Usage

The idiom 多此一举 (duō cǐ yī jǔ) is commonly used in classical Chinese literature to describe an unnecessary or superfluous action. The phrase is composed of four characters: 多 (duō, many), 此 (cǐ, this), 一 (yī, one), and 举 (jǔ, action). It conveys the idea of taking an extra step that adds no value and is often seen as redundant. This idiom is similar in meaning to 画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú), which means 'adding feet to a snake,' emphasizing the futility of the action. In modern usage, 多此一举 is employed to critique actions that are deemed excessive or unneeded, often in a self-deprecating manner or to point out inefficiencies.

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。