揠苗助长 (yà miáo-zhù zhǎng) — to force growth by pulling up seedlings — i.e., to act rashly and ruin things by being overeager
Definition
A chengyu from an ancient fable: literally 'pull up seedlings to help them grow' — used to criticize any hasty, overeager action that backfires by ruining what it tries to speed up.
phrase
to force growth by pulling up seedlings — i.e.to act rashly and ruin things by being overeager
Examples
- 揠苗助长，。Xué xí bù néng yà miáo-zhù zhǎng, yào yí bù yí bù lái.You can't force learning; you have to take it step by step.
- 揠苗助长。Tā nà zhǒng yà miáo-zhù zhǎng de zuò fǎ zhī huì ràng wèn tí gèng yán zhòng.That kind of hasty approach of his will only make the problem worse.
- ，揠苗助长。Tóu zī yào nài xīn, qiè jì yà miáo-zhù zhǎng.Investing requires patience; be careful not to try to force quick gains.
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