画蛇添足(畫蛇添足)
画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú) literally means “draw snake add feet”and expresses “ruin by adding extras”.This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom & learning.
Also searched as: hua she tian zu, hua she tian zu,画蛇添足 meaning, 画蛇添足 in english
Pronunciation: huà shé tiān zú Literal meaning: Draw snake add feet
Origin & Usage
The ancient parable tells of an artist who lost a wine-drinking contest because he spent extra time adding legs to his snake drawing (画蛇添足). The story entered common usage during the Han Dynasty as a warning against ruining sufficiency through unnecessary additions. Today it reminds us how overelaboration often diminishes rather than enhances.
When to Use
Situation: The excessive explanations only confused the simple concept
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Related Chinese Idioms
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得心应手
dé xīn yìng shǒu
Work with great ease; have complete mastery
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驾轻就熟
jià qīng jiù shú
Be very familiar with; handle with expertise
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Be experienced; find something easy due to familiarity
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Handle with ease; have skill to spare
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Have a well-thought-out plan; be confident
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shì kě ér zhǐ
Stop at the right point; practice moderation
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见好就收
jiàn hǎo jiù shōu
Quit while ahead; take profits
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jí liú yǒng tuì
Retire at the peak; know when to quit
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 画蛇添足 mean in English?
画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú) literally translates to “Draw snake add feet”and is used to express “Ruin by adding extras”. This Chinese idiom belongs to theWisdom & Learning category..
When is 画蛇添足 used?
Situation: The excessive explanations only confused the simple concept
What is the pinyin for 画蛇添足?
The pinyin pronunciation for 画蛇添足 is “huà shé tiān zú”.
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