适得其反

適得其反
shìdé-qífǎn
idiom #25,852

Meanings

  1. 1 to produce the opposite of the desired result
  2. 2 to backfire
  3. 3 counterproductive

Examples

HSK 5
Guòdù bǎohù háizi wǎngwǎng shìdé-qífǎn.
Overprotecting children often produces the opposite of the intended effect.
HSK 7-9
Tā de pīpíng fēidàn méiyǒu bāngzhù, fǎn'ér shìdé-qífǎn.
His criticism not only failed to help but backfired entirely.

Tips

memory
适 means to fit/suit, 得 means to obtain, 其 means its, 反 means opposite - you aimed for a fit result but got its opposite instead.

Stroke Order

适 shì
得 de
其 qí
反 fǎn