Featured image for 画蛇添足 huàshétiānzú Dictionary entry displaying the word's hanzi, pinyin and the Mandarin Temple logo and tagline.

画蛇添足

画蛇添足 huàshétiānzú

画蛇添足 huàshétiānzú Meaning

Learn the Pinyin Pronunciation and 3 English Translations of the word 画蛇添足 huàshétiānzú .

Pīnyīn Pronunciation
huàshétiānzú | hua4 she2 tian1 zu2
English translation
lit. draw legs on a snake (idiom); fig. to ruin the effect by adding sth superfluous
to overdo it

Learn the Chinese word 画蛇添足 huàshétiānzú in 6 easy steps:

About 画蛇添足 huàshétiānzú

Read some general information about the Chinese word 画蛇添足 huàshétiānzú .

Traditional form

畫蛇添足

Part of speech

Idiom / 成语 chéngyǔ Chéngyǔ
Spread the word

Mandarin Temple

Come for Peace. Stay for Wisdom.

Etymology of 画蛇添足 huàshétiānzú

Familiarize yourself with the origin and historical aspects of the Chinese word 画蛇添足 huàshétiānzú .

huà

Type

ideographic

Explanation

Pictograph of a hand holding a writing utensil () and drawing something. The simplified character huà was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character huà .

Positional decomposition

凵田

Number of Strokes

8

shé

Type

pictophonetic

Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. chóng represents the meaning and represents the sound. Originally written as .

Phonetic compound

Semantic compound

chóng

Positional decomposition

虫它

Number of Strokes

11

tiān

Type

pictophonetic

Phonetic compound

tiǎn

Semantic compound

shuǐ

Positional decomposition

氵忝

Number of Strokes

11

Type

pictographic

Explanation

Pictograph of a foot attached to a leg.

Positional decomposition

kǒu

Number of Strokes

7

Write it!

Practice your Chinese writing skills and learn precisely where and when to draw every stroke of the
Chinese word 画蛇添足 huàshétiānzú .
     Press the Show Strokes button to see the strokes and their order and hit Start Drawing when you are
ready to practice.

Recommended Books for Learning Mandarin Chinese

AMAZON BOOKSHELF

AMAZON BOOKSHELF

A Boy and his Dragon

Once upon a time, a Little Boy was living in a village near the woods. One day, a Dragon came out of the cave secluded in the middle of the forest and began to relentlessly follow the Little Boy, always breathing on the back of his neck, burning the young boy at his slightest misstep.

The child received refuge in an old Temple where there were no mirrors allowed, and it was forbidden to speak of life before entering the sanctum. Ancient books, hidden rooms with unimaginable treasures and beauty beyond comprehension, became part of the boy’s new life.

Time went by until, one day, the now old young boy accidentally glimpses his own reflection in a pond. The Dragon smiled back.

Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.

Copyright © 2022 Mandarin Temple. All rights reserved.

Scroll to Top