carry firewood to put out a fire; adopt a wrong method that worsens the situation
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to carry firewood to put out a fire; to adopt a wrong method that makes the problem worse
formalA classic idiom criticizing counterproductive actions. It is used in formal or literary contexts to warn against shortsighted or fundamentally flawed solutions.
Shì试
tú图
yòng用
zēng增
fā发
huò货
bì币
lái来
jiě解
jué决
jīng经
jì济
wēi危
jī机
，
wú无
yì异
yú于
bào抱
xīn薪
jiù救
huǒ火
。
Trying to solve an economic crisis by printing more money is like carrying firewood to put out a fire.
Duì对
wǎng网
luò络
yáo谣
yán言
jìn进
xíng行
shān删
tiě帖
fēng封
hào号
ér而
bù不
jìn进
xíng行
pì辟
yáo谣
，
yǒu有
shí时
fǎn反
ér而
qǐ起
dào到
bào抱
xīn薪
jiù救
huǒ火
de的
xiào效
guǒ果
。
Suppressing online rumors by deleting posts and banning accounts without refuting them sometimes has the effect of adding fuel to the fire.
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Yòng用
bào暴
lì力
zhèn镇
yā压
hé和
píng平
kàng抗
yì议
，
zhè这
wán完
quán全
shì是
bào抱
xīn薪
jiù救
huǒ火
de的
yú愚
chǔn蠢
xíng行
wéi为
。
Using violent suppression against peaceful protests is a completely foolish act of carrying firewood to put out a fire.