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拔苗助长 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
拔苗助长bámiáozhùzhǎngto spoil things through excessive enthusiasm (idiom)HSK 6, i, 27 strokes, Hard
bámiáozhùzhǎng(ba2miao2zhu4zhang3) T2
  1. 1to spoil things through excessive enthusiasm (idiom)
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March 24, 2026

拔苗助长(拔苗助長)bámiáozhùzhǎng(ba2miao2zhu4zhang3)

拔苗助长 (bá miáo zhù zhǎng) is an idiom that literally means 'to pull up seedlings to help them grow.' It signifies the idea of trying to force progress or success through impatience or excessive enthusiasm, ultimately leading to negative results. This expression is commonly used to warn against overzealous actions that can hinder rather than help development.

Strokes27DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

The concept of nurturing growth through patience is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, often reflected in agricultural practices and traditional philosophies like Confucianism, which emphasize steady progress and careful cultivation.

Memory Tip

Imagine a gardener who is so eager to see their plants grow that they start pulling the seedlings up to check their progress. This frantic action symbolizes impatience and leads to stunted growth, just like the idiom itself. The phonetic components '拔' (bá) sounds like 'bar,' which you can visualize as a bar that restricts growth when pulled too hard.

Meanings of 拔苗助长

bámiáozhùzhǎng(ba2miao2zhu4zhang3)
1to spoil things through excessive enthusiasm (idiom)
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About 拔苗助长

拔苗助长Simplified
拔苗助長Traditional
27Strokes
—Radical
成语chéngyǔidiom (id.)Part of Speech
#1Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6TOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1

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Podcast: 拔苗助长

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AI Study Notes for 拔苗助长

Usage Notes

This idiom is often used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing projects or personal growth. A common mistake is to confuse it with other idioms related to growth without understanding the negative connotation of impatience. Remember that it should not be used to describe normal, healthy progress.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 idiom, students should focus on understanding its metaphorical meaning and how it connects to other growth-related idioms. Recognizing its use in discussions about education, business, or personal development can enhance comprehension of advanced texts and conversations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use this idiom in contexts where there is simply slow progress without impatience being the issue. For example, saying 'The project is taking too long; we need to 拔苗助长' misuses the idiom since it implies forceful action rather than a natural pace.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 拔苗助长

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Idiom Spotlight: 拔苗助长

Chengyu Origin Story
Literal meaning:pull seedling help grow

Component Characters

拔báto pull up
HSK 78 strokes扌
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苗miáoHmong or Miao ethnic group of southwest China
HSK 78 strokes艹
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助zhùto help
HSK 57 strokes力
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长chánglength
HSK 24 strokes长
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How to say to spoil things through excessive enthusiasm (idiom) in Chinese

“to spoil things through excessive enthusiasm (idiom)” in Chinese is拔苗助长bámiáozhùzhǎng

拔苗助长 (bá miáo zhù zhǎng) is an idiom that literally means 'to pull up seedlings to help them grow.' It signifies the idea of trying to force progress or success through impatience or excessive enthusiasm, ultimately leading to negative results. This expression is commonly used to warn against overzealous actions that can hinder rather than help development.

When to use 拔苗助长

This idiom is often used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing projects or personal growth. A common mistake is to confuse it with other idioms related to growth without understanding the negative connotation of impatience. Remember that it should not be used to describe normal, healthy progress.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use this idiom in contexts where there is simply slow progress without impatience being the issue. For example, saying 'The project is taking too long; we need to 拔苗助长' misuses the idiom since it implies forceful action rather than a natural pace.

Write 拔苗助长

拔
苗
助
长

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Frequently Asked Questions about 拔苗助长

The literal translation is 'to pull up seedlings to help them grow.'

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