Chinese Idiom: 适得其反 (Shi De Qi Fan)
English Translation: Achieving the Opposite of One’s Intention
pīn yīn: shì dé qí fǎn
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a situation where the outcome is contrary to one’s intentions. “适” means to suit or be appropriate, while “其反” refers to the opposite of one’s subjective wishes.
Historical Source: 《列子·说符》 (Records of Liezi)
Idiom Story:
The story originates from the late Spring and Autumn Period in the Jin state, where a noble named Zhao Yang, also known as Zhao Jianzi, was regarded as a benevolent figure who cared for the well-being of living beings. Each New Year’s Day, people from the Handan area would bring him cages filled with lively quails, and Zhao Jianzi would generously reward them with gold and silver for their gifts.
One year, a visitor came to Zhao Jianzi’s home and was puzzled by the numerous quails. He asked, “What do you need so many quails for?” Proudly, Zhao Jianzi replied, “You may not know, but I release them every year on New Year’s Day to show my compassion for living creatures.”
Instead of expressing admiration, the visitor became serious and pointed out, “What you call releasing is, in fact, harming. Your actions may appear charitable, but they are truly cruel. Think about it: when the common people know you will release the captured quails and reward them generously, they will catch as many as they can. While some will be captured alive, many others will inevitably die in the process. If you genuinely wish to protect living beings, you should prohibit their capture. Otherwise, your acts of catching and releasing, instead of showing kindness, will only exacerbate the suffering.”
Listening to the visitor’s words, Zhao Jianzi nodded frequently, realizing the truth in the critique. He understood that his good intentions had resulted in an outcome contrary to his desires, illustrating the essence of the idiom 适得其反.
This story highlights the importance of understanding the broader implications of one’s actions and the unintended consequences that can arise, reminding us that good intentions alone are not enough to ensure positive outcomes.
