Chinese Idiom: 弄巧成拙 (Nong Qiao Cheng Zhuo)
English Translation: Trying to be clever results in clumsiness
pīn yīn: nòng qiǎo chéng zhuō
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a situation where someone, in an attempt to be clever or skillful, ends up making a foolish mistake. “巧” (qiǎo) refers to cleverness or skill, and “拙” (zhuō) means clumsy or awkward.
Historical Source: A story associated with the painter Huang Tingjian’s work, Zhuo Xuan Tu (《拙轩图》).
Idiom Story:
During the Northern Song Dynasty, there was a renowned painter named Sun Zhiwei, who was particularly skilled in painting figures. One day, he was commissioned by Shouning Temple in Chengdu to create a painting titled The Nine Luminaries and Deities (《九耀星君图》). Sun Zhiwei meticulously outlined the figures, making them vivid and lifelike, with flowing robes that gave them an ethereal, celestial appearance. All that remained was the final step—adding color.
Just as he was about to complete the painting, Sun Zhiwei received an invitation from a friend to have a drink. Before leaving, he carefully reviewed his work, feeling satisfied with the result. He then instructed his disciples, “The lines are all drawn, and the figures are complete. The only thing left is to add color. Be careful not to use the wrong colors. I have some business with a friend, and I expect the painting to be finished by the time I return.”
After Sun Zhiwei left, his disciples gathered around the painting, admiring their master’s skillful techniques and overall composition. They discussed various aspects of the painting with enthusiasm, noting the impressive demeanor of the deities and the intricate details.
Among the disciples was a student named Tong Renyi, who was known for showing off his cleverness and seeking attention. While the others praised the painting, Tong Renyi remained silent, pretending to be deep in thought. When asked why he wasn’t commenting, he replied with an air of superiority, “The water deity’s attendant is well-rendered, but it seems that the crystal bottle he holds is missing something.”
The other disciples were puzzled and asked what might be missing. Tong Renyi confidently suggested, “Our master often paints a fresh flower in such bottles, but this time he seems to have forgotten. Perhaps in his haste to leave, he didn’t have time to add it. We should paint it ourselves before adding color.”
Taking matters into his own hands, Tong Renyi added a bright red lotus flower to the bottle held by the attendant in the painting.
When Sun Zhiwei returned and saw the lotus flower in the crystal bottle, he was both amused and angry. He exclaimed, “Who did this foolish thing? This isn’t just a case of painting a snake with legs; it’s a clear example of ‘弄巧成拙!’ The crystal bottle held by the attendant is a magical vessel used by the water deity to subdue water monsters. By adding a lotus flower, you’ve turned a powerful artifact into an ordinary vase! What a ridiculous mistake!”
In his frustration, Sun Zhiwei tore the painting to shreds. The other disciples looked at Tong Renyi, who stood silent and ashamed.
This story gave rise to the idiom “弄巧成拙,” highlighting the folly of trying to be overly clever, only to end up making a foolish error.
