Chinese Idiom: 画蛇添足 (Hua She Tian Zu)
English Translation: Adding feet to a snake
pīn yīn: huà shé tiān zú
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes the act of being overly clever or imaginative, resulting in unnecessary additions that complicate a situation, ultimately leading to failure.
Historical Source: “Strategies of the Warring States” (《战国策 · 齐策二》).
Idiom Story:
During the Warring States period, there was a nobleman in the state of Chu who awarded his guests with a jar of wine after a spring ritual. With a limited amount of wine and several guests, one of them suggested a contest: “Since there isn’t enough for everyone, let’s have a race to see who can draw a snake on the ground first. The winner will drink the wine.”
One guest quickly finished drawing a snake. Excitedly, he held the wine jar in one hand and continued to add details, saying, “I can even give it some feet!” However, while he was still busy embellishing his drawing, another guest completed his snake and snatched the jar away, exclaiming, “Snakes don’t have feet! What you’ve drawn isn’t a snake anymore.” He then proceeded to drink the wine.
In the end, the guest who attempted to add feet to the snake ended up with nothing, watching helplessly as the wine was consumed by the other. This story illustrates that unnecessary modifications can ruin the original intention or purpose, leading to failure.
Consequently, the idiom “画蛇添足” (adding feet to a snake) emerged as a cautionary tale against overcomplicating matters and making pointless additions.
