画蛇添足huà shé tiān zúto ruin the effect by adding something superfluous

1. 1.

   to ruin the effect by adding something superfluousidiom

2. 2.

   to overdo itidiom

Figurative meaning

To spoil something that was already finished by adding something superfluous.

Literal meaning

Draw legs on a snake.

• 画to draw
• 蛇snake
• 添to add
• 足foot; leg (bound form)

The story

In the Zhan Guo Ce, the persuader Chen Zhen tells the Chu general Zhao Yang a story. A man in Chu who had held a sacrifice gave his attendants a single cup of wine. They agreed that one cup was too little for several people but more than enough for one, so each would draw a snake on the ground, and whoever finished first would drink. The first man to finish picked up the cup. Holding it in his left hand, he kept drawing with his right and said, “I can give it feet.” Before he was done, another man finished his snake, took the cup and said, “A snake has no feet. How can you give it feet?” Then he drank the wine. The man who drew the feet lost the wine he had already won.

画蛇添足 is often used in advice or criticism about writing, speaking or any finished piece of work, and it can follow 是 or 别 in a sentence.

1. HSK 4

   文章已经写好了，别再画蛇添足了。

   Wénzhāng yǐjīng xiě hǎo le, bié zài huà shé tiān zú le.

   The article is already finished, so don't add anything that will spoil it.

2. HSK 4

   地图已经很清楚了，再加解释就是画蛇添足。

   Dìtú yǐjīng hěn qīngchu le, zài jiā jiěshì jiùshì huà shé tiān zú.

   The map is already clear. Adding an explanation would just be overdoing it.

3. HSK 4

   菜已经够咸了，再放盐就画蛇添足了。

   Cài yǐjīng gòu xián le, zài fàng yán jiù huà shé tiān zú le.

   The dish is salty enough already. Adding more salt would ruin it.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   我想在文章最后再加一句话。

   Wǒ xiǎng zài wénzhāng zuìhòu zài jiā yí jù huà.

   I want to add one more sentence at the end of the article.

2. 
   Speaker B:

   为什么？你的意思已经很清楚了。

   Wèishénme? Nǐ de yìsi yǐjīng hěn qīngchu le.

   Why? Your point is already clear.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   我怕老师看不懂。

   Wǒ pà lǎoshī kàn bu dǒng.

   I'm worried the teacher won't understand.

4. 
   Speaker B:

   别担心，再加就是画蛇添足了。

   Bié dānxīn, zài jiā jiùshì huà shé tiān zú le.

   Don't worry. Adding more would just spoil it.

1. 1.What does 画蛇添足 mean?

   ATo finish a task very quicklyBTo ruin something by adding what it doesn't needCTo draw something very accurately
2. 2.In the original story, why did the first man lose the wine?

   AHe drew his snake too slowlyBHe drank too muchCHe stopped to add feet to his snake
3. 3.Which sentence uses 画蛇添足 correctly?

   A菜已经够咸了，再放盐就画蛇添足了。B他画蛇添足地完成了作业，老师很高兴。C今天天气很好，我们画蛇添足吧。

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Related idioms

• 画龙点睛huà lóng diǎn jīngto add the vital finishing touchHSK 7–9
• 打草惊蛇dǎ cǎo jīng shéto inadvertently alert an enemyNot on the HSK 3.0 syllabus
• 杯弓蛇影bēi gōng shé yǐngunnecessary suspicionsNot on the HSK 3.0 syllabus
• 一举两得yì jǔ liǎng détwo birds with one stoneHSK 7–9
• 一如既往yì rú jì wǎng(idiom) just as in the past; as before; continuing as alwaysHSK 7–9
• 一目了然yí mù liǎo ránobvious at a glance (idiom)HSK 7–9

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