yù sù zé bù dá: 欲速则不达 - Haste Makes Waste, More Haste Less Speed

• Keywords: 欲速则不达, yu su ze bu da, haste makes waste in Chinese, Chinese proverb about patience, 欲速則不達, Confucius quote, more haste less speed, Chinese idiom for rushing, meaning of yu su ze bu da, Chinese chengyu, learn Chinese patience.
• Summary: Discover the profound meaning of the Chinese idiom 欲速则不达 (yù sù zé bù dá), a timeless piece of wisdom from Confucius that translates to “haste makes waste” or “more haste, less speed.” This entry breaks down the characters, explores its cultural roots in Chinese philosophy, and provides practical examples of how this proverb is used in modern life, from business negotiations to the journey of learning Chinese itself. Learn why patience and a methodical approach are deeply valued in Chinese culture.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yù sù zé bù dá
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (成语) - a classical four-character idiom.
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: Desiring speed will result in not reaching your goal.
• In a Nutshell: This proverb is a classic warning against the pitfalls of impatience. It teaches that trying to rush a task or achieve a goal too quickly often leads to mistakes, poor quality, and ultimately, failure to reach the objective. It champions the virtues of patience, careful planning, and taking the time to build a solid foundation.

• 欲 (yù): To desire, to want, to wish for.
• 速 (sù): Speed, fast, rapid, quick.
• 则 (zé): A grammatical particle indicating a consequence, meaning “then” or “in that case.”
• 不 (bù): Not, no.
• 达 (dá): To reach, to arrive at, to achieve.

When combined, the literal meaning is crystal clear: “Desire speed, then not achieve.” This direct structure makes the idiom's logic easy for learners to grasp. It's a cause-and-effect statement about the negative consequences of impatience.

This idiom originates from the Analects of Confucius (《论语》), a foundational text of Chinese philosophy. In the story, one of Confucius's disciples, Zixia, was the governor of a small territory and asked his master for advice on governance. Confucius told him: “无欲速，无见小利。欲速则不达，见小利则大事不成。” (Wú yù sù, wú jiàn xiǎo lì. Yù sù zé bù dá, jiàn xiǎo lì zé dà shì bù chéng.) which means, “Do not desire speed; do not be fixated on small gains. If you desire speed, you will not reach your goal. If you are fixated on small gains, you will not accomplish great things.” This proverb is more than just a simple “haste makes waste.” It's deeply embedded in a cultural mindset that values long-term strategy, patience, and sustainability over short-term gains.

• Western Comparison: The English phrase “haste makes waste” is an excellent parallel, but it often applies to more mundane, physical tasks (e.g., rushing to paint a wall and making a mess). 欲速则不达 carries a deeper, more philosophical weight. It is frequently applied to grander ambitions like mastering a skill, building a career, governing a country, or cultivating one's character. It's less about avoiding a simple mistake and more about the fundamental strategy for achieving significant, long-term success. It highlights the virtue of the process itself, not just the outcome.

欲速则不达 is a common and respected piece of advice used across various aspects of modern life. It carries a formal, educated tone but is understood by everyone.

• In Education and Learning: This is perhaps the most common context. A teacher will say this to a student who is cramming for an exam without truly understanding the material. It's especially relevant for learning languages or musical instruments, where a strong foundation is crucial.
• In Business and Career: A senior manager might use this phrase to caution a junior employee who is cutting corners to finish a project ahead of schedule, warning them that the poor quality will ultimately lead to failure or rework.
• In Personal Advice: A parent or friend might offer this advice to someone rushing into a major life decision, such as getting married, buying a house, or starting a business without proper planning. It's a gentle reminder to slow down and think things through.

The connotation is almost always cautionary and wise. It's not a criticism of a person's ambition but of their hasty method.

• Example 1:
  • 学习中文需要耐心，欲速则不达。
  • Pinyin: Xuéxí Zhōngwén xūyào nàixīn, yù sù zé bù dá.
  • English: Learning Chinese requires patience; haste makes waste.
  • Analysis: This is a classic piece of advice for language learners. It emphasizes that trying to become fluent overnight by skipping fundamentals will ultimately slow you down.
• Example 2:
  • 老板提醒我们，这个项目很重要，千万不能欲速则不达。
  • Pinyin: Lǎobǎn tíxǐng wǒmen, zhège xiàngmù hěn zhòngyào, qiānwàn bùnéng yù sù zé bù dá.
  • English: The boss reminded us that this project is very important, so we absolutely must not rush and make mistakes.
  • Analysis: Here, it's used in a professional context as a formal warning to prioritize quality over speed.
• Example 3:
  • 减肥也是一样，要慢慢来，欲速则不达，对身体不好。
  • Pinyin: Jiǎnféi yěshì yīyàng, yào màn man lái, yù sù zé bù dá, duì shēntǐ bù hǎo.
  • English: Losing weight is the same; you have to take it slow. More haste, less speed—it's bad for your health.
  • Analysis: This example applies the proverb to personal health and fitness, showing its versatility.
• Example 4:
  • 很多初创公司失败的原因就是欲速则不达，他们扩张得太快了。
  • Pinyin: Hěnduō chūchuàng gōngsī shībài de yuányīn jiùshì yù sù zé bù dá, tāmen kuòzhāng dé tài kuài le.
  • English: The reason many startups fail is haste makes waste; they expand too quickly.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the idiom to analyze a business strategy, giving a concise and powerful explanation for failure.
• Example 5:
  • 别逼孩子学那么多东西，小心欲速则不达。
  • Pinyin: Bié bī háizi xué nàme duō dōngxi, xiǎoxīn yù sù zé bù dá.
  • English: Don't force the child to learn so many things; be careful, or your haste will be counterproductive.
  • Analysis: A common piece of parenting advice, cautioning against overwhelming a child with too much pressure to learn.
• Example 6:
  • 他急于求成，结果犯了很多错误，真是欲速则不达。
  • Pinyin: Tā jíyúqiúchéng, jiéguǒ fànle hěnduō cuòwù, zhēnshi yù sù zé bù dá.
  • English: He was anxious to get quick results and ended up making many mistakes. It's a true case of more haste, less speed.
  • Analysis: This sentence explicitly links the mindset of being “anxious for success” (急于求成) to the outcome of `欲速则不达`.
• Example 7:
  • 在处理这个复杂问题时，我们必须一步一步来，记住，欲速则不达。
  • Pinyin: Zài chǔlǐ zhège fùzá wèntí shí, wǒmen bìxū yībù yībù lái, jìzhù, yù sù zé bù dá.
  • English: When handling this complex problem, we must proceed step by step. Remember, haste makes waste.
  • Analysis: This highlights the solution to the problem: a methodical, “step-by-step” (一步一步) approach.
• Example 8:
  • 我本来想一天就看完这本书，但我发现欲速则不达，很多细节都错过了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ běnlái xiǎng yītiān jiù kàn wán zhè běn shū, dàn wǒ fāxiàn yù sù zé bù dá, hěnduō xìjié dōu cuòguòle.
  • English: I originally wanted to finish this book in one day, but I discovered that more haste meant less speed, as I missed many details.
  • Analysis: A personal reflection on the trade-off between speed and comprehension.
• Example 9:
  • 任何技能的掌握都需要时间积累，欲速则不达是亘古不变的道理。
  • Pinyin: Rènhé jìnéng de zhǎngwò dōu xūyào shíjiān jīlěi, yù sù zé bù dá shì gè gǔ bù biàn de dàolǐ.
  • English: Mastering any skill requires an accumulation of time. “Haste makes waste” is an eternal truth.
  • Analysis: This sentence frames the idiom as a universal, unchanging principle (亘古不变的道理).
• Example 10:
  • 爱情不能强求，欲速则不达，顺其自然最好。
  • Pinyin: Àiqíng bùnéng qiǎngqiú, yù sù zé bù dá, shùn qí zìrán zuì hǎo.
  • English: You can't force love; trying to rush it will backfire. It's best to let things happen naturally.
  • Analysis: This applies the proverb to the delicate and organic process of developing a relationship, showcasing its broad applicability.

• It's not about being slow: A common misunderstanding is to think 欲速则不达 is an argument for being slow. It's not. It's an argument against being hasty. The proverb advocates for a steady, methodical, and efficient pace that doesn't sacrifice quality or planning. The goal is sustainable progress, not procrastination.
• Context is Key: Using this proverb for a situation that genuinely requires speed would be incorrect. For example, if your house is on fire, shouting “欲速则不达!” to the firefighters would be absurd. It applies to tasks where the quality of the process determines the success of the outcome.
• Incorrect Usage Example:
  • A: 快点跑！公共汽车要走了！ (Kuài diǎn pǎo! Gōnggòng qìchē yào zǒule!) - “Hurry up and run! The bus is about to leave!”
  • B (incorrect): 别急，欲速则不达。 (Bié jí, yù sù zé bù dá.) - “Don't worry, haste makes waste.”
  • Why it's wrong: In this situation, speed is the only goal. There is no complex process or quality to maintain. Missing the bus is the “failure,” and running fast is the only way to “succeed.” A methodical pace would guarantee failure.

• 拔苗助长 (bá miáo zhù zhǎng) - “Pulling up seedlings to help them grow.” A vivid idiom with the same core meaning: trying to rush a natural process will only ruin it.
• 急于求成 (jí yú qiú chéng) - “Anxious to achieve success.” Describes the impatient mindset that leads to the negative outcome of `欲速则不达`.
• 循序渐进 (xún xù jiàn jìn) - The direct solution or antonymic concept: “to follow a set order and advance step-by-step.” This is the proper, methodical approach.
• 功到自然成 (gōng dào zì rán chéng) - “Success comes naturally when the work is done.” This proverb reinforces the value of patient effort, suggesting that results will appear when the time is right.
• 一口吃不成胖子 (yī kǒu chī bù chéng pàngzi) - A very common and colloquial saying: “You can't get fat from one mouthful.” It expresses the exact same idea in a more rustic, everyday manner.
• 脚踏实地 (jiǎo tà shí dì) - “To have one's feet firmly on the ground.” This describes the recommended attitude: be practical, grounded, and take one solid step at a time.
• 耐心 (nàixīn) - The core virtue of patience, which this proverb champions.