过犹不及

過猶不及
guòyóu-bùjí
idiom #42,361

Meanings

  1. 1 going too far is as bad as not going far enough
  2. 2 excess is as bad as deficiency

Examples

HSK 2
Guānxīn háizi shì hǎoshì, dàn guòyóu-bùjí.
Caring about your child is good, but overdoing it is just as harmful as neglect.
HSK 7-9
Duànliàn yào shìdù, guòyóu-bùjí.
Exercise should be moderate - too much is as bad as too little.

Tips

history
From the 《论语·先进》: Zigong asked which disciple was better, Shi (who overdoes things) or Shang (who falls short). Confucius replied, "Shi overshoots, Shang undershoots - overshooting is the same as undershooting." Foundational Confucian moderation.
usage
The classic cue for the "golden mean" (中庸) - any time someone argues for moderation, this idiom is the quickest way to frame it.

Stroke Order

guò
yóu