Definition
过犹不及 is a four-character idiom (成语) from the Confucian Analects, meaning 'going too far is as bad as not going far enough'. It warns against excess in any direction — moderation and balance are key. You can use it in discussions about work, study, diet, or any situation where pushing too hard backfires.
f.e.
going too far is as bad as not going far enoughexcess is just as bad as deficiency
Examples
- ，过犹不及。Zuò shì yào bǎwò hǎo fèncùn, guò yóu bù jí.When doing things, you need to keep the right measure — going too far is as bad as not going far enough.
- ，，过犹不及。Tā měitiān xuéxí shí jǐ ge xiǎoshí, jiéguǒ shēngbìng le, zhēn shì guò yóu bù jí.He studied over ten hours every day and ended up getting sick — truly, going too far is as bad as not going far enough.
- ，过犹不及。Duànliàn shēntǐ yě yào shìdù, guò yóu bù jí fǎn'ér yǒu hài.Even exercise should be moderate — going too far is as bad as not going far enough, and it can actually be harmful.
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