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過猶不及. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
過猶不及, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
過猶不及 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
過猶不及 you have here. The definition of the word
過猶不及 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
過猶不及, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Chinese
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to cross; to go over; (experienced action marker) to cross; to go over; (experienced action marker); to pass; to celebrate; to live; to get along; excessively; too-
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as if; still
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to not do something in time; to be too late; to not reach
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trad. (過猶不及)
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過
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猶
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不及
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simp. (过犹不及)
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过
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犹
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不及
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Etymology
From the Analects, Book 11 (《論語·先進》):
子貢問:「師與商也孰賢?」子曰:「師也過,商也不及。」曰:「然則師愈與?」子曰:「過猶不及。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
子贡问:「师与商也孰贤?」子曰:「师也过,商也不及。」曰:「然则师愈与?」子曰:「过犹不及。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]- From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
- Zǐgòng wèn: “Shī yǔ Shāng yě shú xián?” Zǐyuē: “Shī yě guò, Shāng yě bùjí.” Yuē: “Ránzé Shī yù yú?” Zǐyuē: “Guò yóu bùjí.”
- Zigong asked which of the two, Shi or Shang, was the superior. The Master said, "Shi goes beyond the due mean, and Shang does not come up to it." "Then," said Zigong, "the superiority is with Shi, I suppose." The Master said, "To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short."
Pronunciation
Idiom
過猶不及
- doing too much is just as bad as not doing enough
Descendants