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画蛇添足

HSK 7-9

huàshé-tiānzú

to overdo it; to add the unnecessary (and spoil)

Alternative translations

  • superfétation
  • amplification inutile
  • c'est la cinquième roue d'un carrosse

Explanation

to overdo it

Examples

事情已经很清楚了，他还要画蛇添足地解释。

shìqíng yǐjīng hěn qīngchén le, tā hái yào huàshé tiānzú de jiěshì.

The situation was already clear, but he still added unnecessary explanations

他已经把事情搞砸了，还在画蛇添足地道歉。

tā yǐjīng kǎnɡ shìqíng ɡǎo zhuài le, hái zài huàshé tiānzú de dàoqiàn.

He had already messed up the situation, and then added unnecessary apologies