duō cǐ yī jǔ: 多此一举 - Unnecessary, Superfluous, Redundant

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• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of the common Chinese idiom 多此一举 (duō cǐ yī jǔ). This page provides a deep dive into this essential four-character phrase, which describes an action that is unnecessary, superfluous, or redundant. Discover its cultural context, see practical example sentences, and learn how to use it correctly to sound like a native speaker when pointing out a pointless effort.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): duō cǐ yī jǔ
• Part of Speech: Idiom (成语, chéngyǔ)
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To take an action that is completely unnecessary and superfluous.
• In a Nutshell: 多此一举 is the perfect phrase for when you see someone doing something that is utterly pointless. It literally translates to “many this one action,” implying that “this one action is one too many.” Think of it as the Chinese equivalent of “gilding the lily” or “carrying coals to Newcastle.” It carries a slightly critical or exasperated tone, pointing out wasted effort.

• 多 (duō): much, many, excessive, too much
• 此 (cǐ): this, this one (a slightly formal or classical character often found in idioms)
• 一 (yī): one
• 举 (jǔ): an act, a move, an action; to lift

When combined, 多此一举 (duō cǐ yī jǔ) paints a very clear picture: “this one extra act is too much.” It's a succinct way to say that an action was completely unneeded.

The frequent use of 多此一举 reflects a strong sense of pragmatism and efficiency valued in Chinese culture. Wasting time and effort on something that yields no benefit is seen as foolish. The idiom is a quick, culturally understood way to critique inefficiency without necessarily being harsh. A good Western comparison is the phrase “to gild the lily,” which means to add unnecessary adornment to something already beautiful, thus spoiling it. However, 多此一举 is broader. An action can be 多此一举 even if the original situation wasn't perfect. The focus is purely on the *redundancy of the action itself*, not necessarily on its effect. For example, bringing a calculator to a math test where calculators are forbidden is 多此一举—it's a pointless act. It doesn't necessarily make the situation worse, it's just a waste of effort. This highlights a focus on practicality over superfluous gestures.

多此一举 is extremely common in everyday life, from casual conversation to more formal writing.

• In Conversation: It's often used as a comment, sometimes with a sigh or a shake of the head. You might say it about a friend who brings a raincoat on a perfectly sunny day, or about a colleague who writes a long email to explain something that could have been said in one sentence.
• Tone and Connotation: The connotation is almost always negative, but its severity depends on the context and tone of voice. It can be a light-hearted jab between friends or a serious criticism of a flawed plan in a business meeting.
• Self-Criticism: People also use it to describe their own actions in a self-deprecating way, for example, “唉，我发了那个邮件后才发现没必要，真是多此一举。” (Ai, wǒ fāle nàge yóujiàn hòu cái fāxiàn méi bìyào, zhēnshi duōcǐyījǔ.) - “Ugh, only after sending that email did I realize it wasn't necessary, what a redundant thing to do.”

• Example 1:
  • 天气预报说今天晴天，你还带雨伞，真是多此一举。
  • Pinyin: Tiānqì yùbào shuō jīntiān qíngtiān, nǐ hái dài yǔsǎn, zhēnshi duōcǐyījǔ.
  • English: The weather forecast said it would be sunny today, yet you still brought an umbrella. That's really unnecessary.
  • Analysis: A classic, everyday example. The action (bringing an umbrella) is completely pointless given the known information (the forecast).
• Example 2:
  • 他已经同意了，你不用再解释了，再说就是多此一举。
  • Pinyin: Tā yǐjīng tóngyì le, nǐ bùyòng zài jiěshì le, zài shuō jiùshì duōcǐyījǔ.
  • English: He already agreed, you don't need to explain anymore. To say more would be superfluous.
  • Analysis: This shows how the idiom can be used to advise someone against a future pointless action. The explanation is no longer needed.
• Example 3:
  • 这份报告已经很清楚了，你又加了十页的附录，有点多此一举。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fèn bàogào yǐjīng hěn qīngchǔ le, nǐ yòu jiā le shí yè de fùlù, yǒudiǎn duōcǐyījǔ.
  • English: This report was already very clear. Your adding a ten-page appendix was a bit redundant.
  • Analysis: A common workplace scenario. The use of “有点 (yǒudiǎn)” softens the criticism, making it sound more like gentle feedback than a harsh accusation.
• Example 4:
  • 门是开着的，你为什么还要按门铃？真是多此一举！
  • Pinyin: Mén shì kāi zhe de, nǐ wèishéme hái yào àn ménlíng? Zhēnshi duōcǐyījǔ!
  • English: The door was open, why did you still ring the doorbell? That was so unnecessary!
  • Analysis: This example highlights the exasperated tone the idiom can carry. The action was obviously and laughably pointless.
• Example 5:
  • 我以为他不知道，就发短信提醒他，结果他早就到了。我这真是多此一举。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yǐwéi tā bù zhīdào, jiù fā duǎnxìn tíxǐng tā, jiéguǒ tā zǎo jiù dào le. Wǒ zhè zhēnshi duōcǐyījǔ.
  • English: I thought he didn't know, so I sent him a text to remind him, but it turned out he had already arrived. That was a really pointless move on my part.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of using the idiom for self-criticism. The speaker acknowledges their action was a waste.
• Example 6:
  • 给鱼画上腿，这不仅是多此一举，更是画蛇添足。
  • Pinyin: Gěi yú huà shàng tuǐ, zhè bùjǐn shì duōcǐyījǔ, gèng shì huàshétiānzú.
  • English: Adding legs to a drawing of a fish is not just superfluous, it's ruining the whole thing.
  • Analysis: This sentence cleverly uses 多此一举 alongside its close relative 画蛇添足 (huàshétiānzú). It shows that an action can be both unnecessary *and* ruinous. See “Nuances” below.
• Example 7:
  • 公司规定必须穿正装，他却担心自己不够正式，还戴了一顶礼帽，同事都觉得他多此一举。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī guīdìng bìxū chuān zhèngzhuāng, tā què dānxīn zìjǐ bùgòu zhèngshì, hái dài le yī dǐng lǐmào, tóngshì dōu juéde tā duōcǐyījǔ.
  • English: The company requires formal wear, but he was worried he wasn't formal enough and even wore a top hat. All his colleagues thought it was over the top and unnecessary.
  • Analysis: This illustrates a social context where someone goes too far, and their extra effort is seen as pointless or even silly.
• Example 8:
  • 你把文件用邮件发给我，然后又打印出来给我一份，这不是多此一举吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bǎ wénjiàn yòng yóujiàn fā gěi wǒ, ránhòu yòu dǎyìn chūlái gěi wǒ yī fèn, zhè bùshì duōcǐyījǔ ma?
  • English: You emailed me the file and then also printed out a copy for me. Isn't that redundant?
  • Analysis: The rhetorical question “这不是…吗？” (zhè bùshì…ma?) is a very common structure used with this idiom to emphasize the obvious pointlessness of the action.
• Example 9:
  • 这个问题我们电话里已经解决了，再开个会完全是多此一举。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge wèntí wǒmen diànhuà lǐ yǐjīng jiějué le, zài kāi ge huì wánquán shì duōcǐyījǔ.
  • English: We already solved this problem on the phone. Having another meeting would be completely superfluous.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how to use the idiom to argue against a proposed future action in a business or professional setting.
• Example 10:
  • 他为了省一块钱的公交费，走了半小时的路，结果路上口渴买瓶水花了三块钱，真是多此一举。
  • Pinyin: Tā wèile shěng yī kuài qián de gōngjiāo fèi, zǒu le bàn xiǎoshí de lù, jiéguǒ lùshàng kǒu kě mǎi píng shuǐ huā le sān kuài qián, zhēnshi duōcǐyījǔ.
  • English: In order to save one yuan on the bus fare, he walked for half an hour, but then got thirsty and spent three yuan on a bottle of water. It was a completely self-defeating and unnecessary effort.
  • Analysis: This shows a situation where the unnecessary action not only wasted effort but also led to a worse outcome, perfectly capturing the essence of 多此一举.

• Mistake 1: Confusing it with a similar idiom.
  • 多此一举 (duō cǐ yī jǔ) vs. 画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú)
  • 画蛇添足 (drawing a snake and adding feet) specifically means to ruin something that is already good or complete by adding something superfluous. The extra action makes the result *worse*.
  • 多此一举 is broader. The action is simply unnecessary. It might make things worse, but it could also have no effect at all. The focus is on the *wasted effort*.
  • Example: If a report is perfect and you add a bad summary, that's 画蛇添足. If the report is perfect and you email it *and* hand-deliver a copy, that's 多此一举.
• Mistake 2: Using it for positive “extra effort”.
  • Do not use 多此一举 to describe someone being thorough or going the extra mile in a helpful way. It is exclusively for pointless actions.
  • Incorrect: 他工作很努力，总是多此一举地把报告检查三遍。(Tā gōngzuò hěn nǔlì, zǒngshì duōcǐyījǔ de bǎ bàogào jiǎnchá sān biàn.) - This is wrong because checking a report three times is being careful, not redundant.
  • Correct: 他工作很努力，总是一丝不苟地把报告检查三遍。(Tā gōngzuò hěn nǔlì, zǒngshì yīsībùgǒu de bǎ bàogào jiǎnchá sān biàn.) - “He works very hard, always meticulously checking the report three times.” (一丝不苟 (yīsībùgǒu) means meticulous).

• 画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú) - A close synonym meaning “to add feet to a snake.” It emphasizes that the superfluous action *ruins* an already finished product.
• 多余 (duōyú) - The adjective form, meaning “superfluous,” “unnecessary,” or “surplus.” You can say an action is 多余的 (duōyú de).
• 没必要 (méi bìyào) - A direct, non-idiomatic way of saying “there's no need” or “it's not necessary.” Less formal and more common in simple speech.
• 脱裤子放屁 (tuō kùzi fàngpì) - A highly colloquial and vulgar phrase that means the same thing: “to take off one's pants to fart.” Use with extreme caution among close friends only.
• 徒劳无功 (tú láo wú gōng) - “To work in vain.” This is related, but focuses on the *lack of result* from an effort, whereas 多此一举 focuses on the *pointlessness of the effort from the start*.
• 锦上添花 (jǐn shàng tiān huā) - (Antonym) “To add flowers to a brocade.” This describes a positive extra action that makes something good even better.
• 事半功倍 (shì bàn gōng bèi) - (Antonym) “Half the work, twice the result.” The epitome of efficiency, the direct opposite of the wasted effort described by 多此一举.