矫枉过正 (jiǎo wǎng guò zhèng) — to overcorrect, to go too far in trying to fix a problem

Definition

A set idiom (chéngyǔ) meaning 'to overcorrect': the original problem was fixed, but the remedy itself went too far the other way.

idiom
to overcorrect, to go too far in trying to fix a problem

Examples

  • ，矫枉过正，。
    Tā wèi le gǎi diào huài xí guàn, fǎn ér jiǎo wǎng guò zhèng, biàn de tài yán gé le.
    He tried to break a bad habit but overcorrected and became too strict.
  • 矫枉过正，。
    Gǎi gé bù néng jiǎo wǎng guò zhèng, fǒu zé huì dài lái xīn de wèn tí.
    Reforms must not overcorrect, or they'll bring new problems.
  • ，矫枉过正。
    Lǎo shī pī píng xué shēng shí yào zhù yì fēn cùn, bì miǎn jiǎo wǎng guò zhèng.
    When criticizing students, teachers should be careful not to overcorrect.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

矫枉correct the bent
矫jiǎocorrect枉wǎngbent
动宾Verb + object
过正exceed the straight
过guòexceed正zhèngstraight
动宾Verb + object

矫枉 (correct the bent) + 过正 (go past straight): fixing something goes beyond what is right.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 矯; 矫 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
矢矢shǐarrow
Sound part声符shēngfú
喬
喬qiáo矯jiǎo
Same sound today

The traditional 矯 pairs 矢 (arrow) with 喬 as a sound part; 矢 shows straightening like an arrow shaft. The simplified 矫 is a later abbreviation.

Open 矫 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 枉 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 過; 过 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
咼
咼wāi過guò
Same sound today

The traditional form 過 pairs 辵 (walk) with 咼 as a sound component; the simplified 过 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 过 →

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
止止zhǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng正zhèng
Same sound today

正 pairs 止 with 丁; 止 marks the sense and 丁 gives the sound.

Open 正 →

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