Definition
节外生枝 is a four-character idiom meaning "new problems unexpectedly arise" or "to deliberately complicate things." It literally translates as "sprouting branches at the joints" and is used metaphorically when an issue that was progressing smoothly suddenly encounters an unforeseen obstacle, or when someone needlessly adds complications. It often carries a tone of frustration: the extra problem feels unnecessary and disruptive.
idiom
new problems crop up unexpectedlyto hit an unexpected snagto deliberately introduce extra complicationsto create unnecessary obstacles
Examples
- ，节外生枝，。Běnlái tán de hǎohao de, tā què túrán jié wài shēng zhī, hézuò yíxiàzi jiù huáng le.We were negotiating smoothly, but he suddenly created new problems, and the cooperation fell apart.
- 节外生枝，。Nǐ bié zài jié wài shēng zhī le, ànzhào yuán jìhuà zuò jiù xíng.Don't complicate things any further — just follow the original plan.
- ，节外生枝。Xiàngmù jìnzhǎn shùnlì, shéi yě méi xiǎngdào zuìhòu huì jié wài shēng zhī.The project was going smoothly; nobody expected new problems to arise at the very end.
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