BeginnerChinese Idiom (成语)

多此一举

duō cǐ yī jǔ

“An unnecessary move”

Meaning: To do something superfluous or unnecessary; to take an unnecessary action; to go to unnecessary trouble

Character-by-Character Breakdown

to lift / to raise / action

HSK 4

The Story Behind 多此一举

Source:《醒世恒言》

Period:Ming Dynasty (1368–1644)

The Unnecessary Action

The idiom 多此一举 comes from classical Chinese literature, emphasizing the idea that doing something unnecessary can actually be counterproductive.

It warns against taking actions that don't contribute to the goal or that are redundant.

The phrase suggests that sometimes the best action is to do nothing when something is already complete or sufficient.

It teaches the value of efficiency and avoiding waste of effort on things that don't need to be done.

Original Classical Chinese

多此一举，反为不美。

How to Use 多此一举

This idiom is used to describe actions that are unnecessary, redundant, or superfluous.

It emphasizes that sometimes doing nothing is better than doing something unnecessary.

The idiom is often used to gently criticize or point out when someone is wasting effort on something that doesn't need to be done.

When to use:

Use when someone does something that is completely unnecessary
Often used to point out redundancy or waste of effort
Can be used as gentle criticism or advice to be more efficient

Common Mistake

Don't confuse this with simply doing something extra. It specifically refers to actions that are completely unnecessary or redundant, not just additional helpful actions.

Example Sentences

他已经知道结果了，你再告诉他就是多此一举。

Tā yǐjīng zhīdào jiéguǒ le, nǐ zài gàosù tā jiùshì duō cǐ yī jǔ.

He already knows the result. Telling him again would be unnecessary.

文件已经保存好了，你再次保存就是多此一举。

Wénjiàn yǐjīng bǎocún hǎo le, nǐ zàicì bǎocún jiùshì duō cǐ yī jǔ.

The file is already saved. Saving it again would be unnecessary.

这个问题已经解决了，你再去研究就是多此一举。

Zhège wèntí yǐjīng jiějué le, nǐ zài qù yánjiū jiùshì duō cǐ yī jǔ.

This problem is already solved. Researching it again would be unnecessary.

Practice Writing

Generate a free printable worksheet with all 4 characters from this idiom.

Generate Worksheet (4 Characters)

Or explore each character:

多stroke order 此stroke order 一stroke order 举stroke order

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 多此一举 (duō cǐ yī jǔ) mean?

多此一举 literally means "an unnecessary move" or "one unnecessary action." Figuratively, it means to do something superfluous or unnecessary, to take an action that doesn't need to be taken. It emphasizes the waste of doing something redundant.

What is the difference between 多此一举 and 画蛇添足?

Both idioms describe unnecessary actions, but 多此一举 focuses on actions that are simply redundant or superfluous, while 画蛇添足 specifically refers to adding unnecessary details that actually ruin something good. 多此一举 is more general, while 画蛇添足 implies the action makes things worse.

How do you use 多此一举 in a sentence?

Use 多此一举 when pointing out that an action is unnecessary. For example: "他已经知道了，你再说就是多此一举" (He already knows, saying it again would be unnecessary). It's often used as gentle criticism.

Is 多此一举 a negative idiom?

Yes, 多此一举 has a negative connotation, but it's usually used in a gentle, constructive way to point out inefficiency or redundancy. It's not as harsh as some other critical idioms and can be used as friendly advice.

Is 多此一举 difficult to learn?

多此一举 is considered beginner-friendly. It uses very common characters (多 HSK1, 此 HSK3, 一 HSK1, 举 HSK4), and the meaning is straightforward. The concept of "unnecessary action" is easy to understand and apply.