if water is too clear, fish cannot survive; don't be overly demanding
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
if water is too clear, fish cannot survive; figuratively, if one is overly critical or demanding of others, one will have no friends or followers
Derived from 《大戴礼记•子张问入官篇》: '水至清则无鱼，人至察则无徒。' Now commonly used to advise against perfectionism or being overly critical. Often shortened to 水清无鱼.
Nǐ你
duì对
tā他
yāo要
qiú求
tài太
yán严
gé格
le了
，
yào要
zhī知
dào道
shuǐ水
zhì至
qīng清
zé则
wú无
yú鱼
，
bié别
ràng让
tā他
tài太
jǐn紧
zhāng张
。
You are too strict with him; you should know that if water is too clear, fish cannot survive—don't make him so nervous.
Guǎn管
lǐ理
yuán员
gōng工
shí时
，
shuǐ水
zhì至
qīng清
zé则
wú无
yú鱼
，
yǒu有
shí时
hòu候
xū需
yào要
zhēng睁
yī一
zhī只
yǎn眼
bì闭
yī一
zhī只
yǎn眼
。
When managing employees, if you are too demanding, you'll have no team; sometimes you need to turn a blind eye.
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Shuǐ水
zhì至
qīng清
zé则
wú无
yú鱼
，
rén人
zhì至
chá察
zé则
wú无
tú徒
，
nǐ你
bú不
yào要
tài太
tiāo挑
tì剔
le了
。
If water is too clear, fish cannot survive; if a man is too scrutinizing, he will have no followers. Don't be so picky.