miáo
zhù
zhǎng

idiom
common

Meaning of 揠苗助长

揠苗助长 means to pull up seedlings to help them grow (the literal story from Mencius); to violate the laws of development by rushing things; to spoil things by excessive enthusiasm. Pronounced yà miáo zhù zhǎng.

  • to pull up seedlings to help them grow (the literal story from Mencius)
  • to violate the laws of development by rushing things; to spoil things by excessive enthusiasm

Definitions & Examples

miáo
zhù
zhǎng
zhè
diǎn
chū
 
Mèng
 ·
Gōng
sūn
Chǒu
shàng
 
 

The allusion of 'pulling up seedlings to help them grow' comes from Mencius, Gongsun Chou I.

Sòng
rén
miáo
zhù
zhǎng
de
xíng
wéi
xiǎn
de
shí
fēn
chǔn
xiào
 

The Song man's act of pulling up seedlings to help them grow appeared extremely foolish and ridiculous.