帮倒忙 (bāng dào máng) — to be more hindrance than help (well-intentioned help that backfires)

Definition

Examples

• 你可别来帮倒忙了，我一个人就行。
  Nǐ kě bié lái bāng dào máng le, wǒ yí gè rén jiù xíng.
  Don't come and be a hindrance — I can manage on my own.
• 他本来想帮忙，结果却帮了一个倒忙。
  Tā běn lái xiǎng bāng máng, jié guǒ què bāng le yí gè dào máng.
  He originally wanted to help, but ended up doing more harm than good.
• 帮忙之前先问问对方需要什么，免得帮倒忙。
  Bāng máng zhī qián xiān wèn wèn duì fāng xū yào shén me, miǎn de bāng dào máng.
  Before you help, first ask what the other person needs, so you don't end up being a hindrance.