画蛇添足

• Pinyin: huà shé tiān zú
• Hanzi breakdown: 画 = draw; 蛇 = 虫 + 也 (snake); 添 = 氵+ 忝 (add); 足 = 口 + 止 (foot)

Meaning

Literally 'to draw a snake and add feet'; to ruin something by adding unnecessary extras; to overdo it.

Used to criticize overcomplication, excessive additions, or actions that detract from an otherwise complete result. Based on a Warring States fable where a man drew feet on a snake and lost a bet.

Examples

1. 这首歌本已完美，多加一段间奏反而画蛇添足，破坏了整体感。 The song was already perfect—adding an extra interlude was unnecessary and actually ruined the overall feel.
2. 他的设计方案简洁精到，再增加装饰不免画蛇添足。 His design proposal is clean and spot-on; adding more decoration would be overdoing it.
3. 对于已经表达清楚的观点，过多解释只会画蛇添足。 When a point is already clear, too much explanation is just adding unnecessary extras.

Usage Guide

Context: writing, design, criticism, advice

Tone: critical

Do Say

• 这份报告已经很完整了，再加内容就是画蛇添足。(This report is already very complete — adding more content would be overdoing it.)
• 删掉最后两段反而更简洁有力，留着只是画蛇添足。(Removing the last two paragraphs actually makes it more concise and powerful — keeping them is superfluous.)

Don't Say

• 画蛇添足 to praise careful attention to detail — it is always negative, describing an action that worsens or complicates an otherwise complete result

Origin & History

画蛇 (draw a snake) + 添足 (add feet) — from a Warring States fable where a man drew feet on a snake and lost a wine-drinking competition

Cultural Context

Era: Warring States period (475–221 BCE)

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal