物极必反 (wù jí bì fǎn) — things will reverse when they reach an extreme; extremes breed reversals

Definition

Classical four-character idiom: once a situation reaches its extreme, it naturally flips to the opposite. Often used as a warning that excess leads to reversal.

idiom
things will reverse when they reach an extremeextremes breed reversals

Examples

  • ，物极必反。
    Rèn hé shì qing dōu yào shì kě ér zhǐ, wù jí bì fǎn jiù shì zhè ge dào lǐ.
    Everything should be done in moderation — 'things reverse when forced to extremes' is exactly that principle.
  • ，物极必反，。
    Tā tài jí yú qiú chéng le, jié guǒ wù jí bì fǎn, fǎn ér bǎ shì qing gǎo zá le.
    He was too impatient for success; as a result, extremes bred reversals, and he ended up messing things up.
  • 物极必反，。
    Gǔ shì zhǎng dé tài kuài wǎng wǎng yì wèi zhe wù jí bì fǎn, tóu zī zhě yào xiǎo xīn.
    When the stock market rises too fast, it often means things will reverse — investors need to be careful.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
牛牛niú
Sound part声符shēngfú
勿
勿wù物wù
Same sound today

物 puts 牛 beside 勿: 牛 gives the meaning, and 勿 gives the sound.

Open 物 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùtree, wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
及
及jí极jí
Same sound today

极 pairs 木 (tree, wood) with 及, which provides the sound.

Open 极 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 必 comes from the handle on the right side of a weapon, with two extra strokes added to its sides.

Open 必 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
又又yòuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
厂
厂chǎng反fǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

反 uses 又 (hand) for meaning and 厂 for sound. Its original shape showed a hand turning its palm over, giving the sense of return or reverse.

Open 反 →

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