适可而止

適可而止
shìkěérzhǐ
idiom #15,157

Meanings

  1. 1 to stop before going too far
  2. 2 to know when to stop; enough is enough

Examples

Hē jiǔ yào shìkěérzhǐ.
You should know when to stop drinking.
Kāi wánxiào shìkěérzhǐ, bié tài guòfèn le.
Joke around in moderation, don't go too far.

Tips

usage
Often used as advice or a warning to someone who is overdoing something. Can follow (yào) as a suggestion or stand alone as a comment.
grammar
This is a four-character idiom (成语) typically used as a predicate or adverbial. It cannot take an object.

Stroke Order

shì
ér
zhǐ