Definition
This is a four-character idiom (成语) from the longer saying 道高一尺，魔高一丈 (literally 'the Way rises one foot, the demon rises one zhang'). It means that as good or justice grows, evil or obstacles grow even faster. In modern usage, it often describes a situation where the opposing force (a problem, an enemy, a difficulty) turns out to be much stronger than expected, or where each improvement is met with a greater challenge. It carries a tone of warning or resigned acknowledgement.
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the evil is one zhang higher (than the good)the opposing force is much stronger than expected
Examples
- ，魔高一丈，。Wǒmen yào xiǎoxīn, mó gāo yī zhàng, duìshǒu bǐ wǒmen xiǎngxiàng de qiángdà.We must be careful — the opposing force is much stronger than we imagined.
- ，魔高一丈，。Suīrán wǒmen jìnbù hěn kuài, dàn mó gāo yī zhàng, kùnnán zǒng shì gèng duō.Although we are making fast progress, the obstacles always seem to grow even faster.
- ，魔高一丈，。Bié gāoxìng tài zǎo, mó gāo yī zhàng, hòumiàn hái yǒu gèng dà de tiǎozhàn.Don't celebrate too early — the evil is one zhang higher; there are even bigger challenges ahead.
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