揠苗助长(揠苗助長)
揠苗助长 (yà miáo zhù zhǎng) literally means “pull seedlings to help growth”and expresses “harmful interference ruins growth”.This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom & learning.
Also searched as: ya miao zhu zhang, ya miao zhu zhang,揠苗助长 meaning, 揠苗助长 in english
Pronunciation: yà miáo zhù zhǎng Literal meaning: Pull seedlings to help growth
Origin & Usage
This counterproductive idiom describes pulling up (揠) seedlings (苗) to help (助) their growth (长), originating from Mencius's writings during the Warring States period. The story tells of an impatient farmer from Song who, dissatisfied with his seedlings' slow growth, pulled them up slightly each day, ultimately killing his entire crop. The tale became a cornerstone of agricultural wisdom about respecting natural development processes. During the Tang Dynasty, officials applied this metaphor to warn against excessive government intervention. Modern usage criticizes well-intentioned but harmful interference that disrupts natural development, particularly relevant in education, parenting, and management where forced acceleration often produces opposite effects.
When to Use
Situation: The manager's constant micromanagement hindered the team's natural development
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
得心应手
dé xīn yìng shǒu
Work with great ease; have complete mastery
Learn more →
驾轻就熟
jià qīng jiù shú
Be very familiar with; handle with expertise
Learn more →
轻车熟路
qīng chē shú lù
Be experienced; find something easy due to familiarity
Learn more →
游刃有余
yóu rèn yǒu yú
Handle with ease; have skill to spare
Learn more →
成竹在胸
chéng zhú zài xiōng
Have a well-thought-out plan; be confident
Learn more →
适可而止
shì kě ér zhǐ
Stop at the right point; practice moderation
Learn more →
见好就收
jiàn hǎo jiù shōu
Quit while ahead; take profits
Learn more →
急流勇退
jí liú yǒng tuì
Retire at the peak; know when to quit
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 揠苗助长 mean in English?
揠苗助长 (yà miáo zhù zhǎng) literally translates to “Pull seedlings to help growth”and is used to express “Harmful interference ruins growth”. This Chinese idiom belongs to theWisdom & Learning category..
When is 揠苗助长 used?
Situation: The manager's constant micromanagement hindered the team's natural development
What is the pinyin for 揠苗助长?
The pinyin pronunciation for 揠苗助长 is “yà miáo zhù zhǎng”.