好大喜功

hàodà-xǐgōng

idiom #86,329

Meanings

1 to crave grand projects and big achievements
2 overambitious for glory
3 given to showy, grandiose deeds

Characters

to be fond of (verb reading)

achievement, merit

Examples

HSK 6

他做事踏实，从不好大喜功。

Tā zuòshì tāshi, cóngbù hàodà-xǐgōng.

He works steadily and has never been one to chase grandiose accomplishments.

HSK 6

公司发展要稳扎稳打，不能好大喜功。

Gōngsī fāzhǎn yào wěnzhā-wěndǎ, bùnéng hàodà-xǐgōng.

A company should grow steadily step by step - it can't be greedy for grand shows of glory.

HSK 7-9

这位领导好大喜功，上任就搞了好几个面子工程。

Zhèwèi lǐngdǎo hàodà-xǐgōng, shàngrèn jiù gǎo le hǎojǐ ge miànzi gōngchéng.

This leader craves grand achievements - as soon as he took office, he launched several vanity projects.

Tips

history

Used in the Xin Tang Shu (New Book of Tang) to criticize Emperor Taizong's later years: 好大喜功，勤兵于远 - 'fond of big things and great deeds, ceaselessly deploying troops far afield.' The term has been a standard indictment of grandstanding rulers ever since.

register

Always pejorative. Common in political commentary, business critique, and historical writing. Pairs naturally with 急功近利 (eager for quick gains) and 华而不实 (flashy but hollow).

Stroke Order

好 hǎo

大 dà

喜 xǐ

功 gōng