欲速不达
欲速不达 (yù sù bù dá) literally means “desire speed, not reach” and expresses “haste makes waste; more haste less speed”. 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: yu su bu da, yu su bu da,欲速不达 meaning, 欲速不达 in english
Haste makes waste; more haste less speed
Pronunciation: yù sù bù dá
Literal meaning: Desire speed, not reach
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes desiring (欲) speed (速) but not (不) reaching (达) the goal. From the Analects where Confucius warned that haste impedes rather than helps. The phrase captures the paradox that rushing often slows progress. Modern usage warns against impatience, recognizing that sustainable achievement requires appropriate pacing rather than desperate rushing.
Examples
English: "Rushing the project caused more delays in the end."
Chinese: 赶工反而导致了更多延误，真是欲速不达。
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 欲速不达 mean in English?
欲速不达 (yù sù bù dá) literally translates to “Desire speed, not reach” and is used to express “Haste makes waste; more haste less speed”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 欲速不达 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving haste makes waste; more haste less speed.
What is the pinyin for 欲速不达?
The pinyin pronunciation for 欲速不达 is “yù sù bù dá”.