节外生枝

節外生枝
jiéwài-shēngzhī
idiom #45,232

Meanings

  1. 1 to sprout branches from a knot
  2. 2 new complications arise
  3. 3 unexpected hitches

Examples

HSK 3
Shìqing běnlái hěn jiǎndān, xiànzài jiéwàishēngzhī le.
The matter was simple, but now new complications have arisen.
HSK 3
Xīwàng zhè cì hézuò shùnlì, búyào jiéwàishēngzhī.
I hope this collaboration goes smoothly without unexpected snags.
HSK 4
Tánpàn jíjiāng jiéshù, duìfāng què jiéwàishēngzhī.
Negotiations were about to wrap up, but the other side threw in new demands.

Tips

memory
Picture a tree: branches normally grow at the joints (). Sprouting from outside a joint means growth where it shouldn't be - trouble in the wrong place.

Stroke Order

jié
wài
shēng
zhī