节外生枝
节外生枝 (jié wài shēng zhī) literally means “branches grow from joint” and expresses “unnecessary complications”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: jie wai sheng zhi, jie wai sheng zhi,节外生枝 meaning, 节外生枝 in english
Unnecessary complications
Pronunciation: jié wài shēng zhī Literal meaning: Branches grow from joint
Origin & Usage
The idiom 节外生枝 (jié wài shēng zhī) is commonly used in classical Chinese literature. It originates from the teachings of the prominent Song dynasty scholar Zhu Xi (朱熹), who emphasized the importance of focused and methodical study. Zhu Xi criticized the tendency to overcomplicate matters by introducing unnecessary complications, likening it to branches (枝, zhī) growing from a joint (节, jié) where they are not needed. This imagery suggests that adding extra elements can hinder progress. In modern usage, 节外生枝 describes situations where new problems arise unexpectedly, often due to overthinking or meddling, which complicates the resolution of the original issue.
Examples
English: "Unexpected complications arose, making the project more difficult than anticipated."
Chinese: 项目中节外生枝，导致了许多额外的工作。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 节外生枝 mean in English?
节外生枝 (jié wài shēng zhī) literally translates to “Branches grow from joint” and is used to express “Unnecessary complications”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 节外生枝 used?
Situation: Unexpected complications arose, making the project more difficult than anticipated.
What is the pinyin for 节外生枝?
The pinyin pronunciation for 节外生枝 is “jié wài shēng zhī”.