溫故知新 Old wisdom, today’s insight — ONGO
과유불급 過猶不及
Too much of a good thing is as bad as not enough.
과유불급 (過猶不及) means "Too much of a good thing is as bad as not enough.". This wisdom originates from the 'Xian Jin' chapter of the Analects of Confucius. When Zigong, a disc
1 Meaning
과유불급 (過猶不及) means “Too much of a good thing is as bad as not enough.”.
The idiom Gwa-yu-bul-geup (過猶不及) teaches that excess is just as harmful as deficiency. It emphasizes the importance of the 'Middle Way,' warning that being overzealous can lead to negative consequences that are worse than being slightly unprepared.
2 Examples
Starting a new fitness journey at the gym.
Driven by sudden motivation, the person ignored their physical limits and performed high-intensity workouts with heavy weights every single day.
Expressing affection and staying in touch with a partner.
In the name of love, one person constantly checked their partner's location and sent a non-stop stream of messages all day long.
Preparing a presentation for a high-stakes project.
To achieve perfection, the presenter packed every slide with excessive data, complex charts, and flashy animations.
A young professional getting into high-risk investing.
They invested their entire savings and even took out loans to buy highly volatile stocks and cryptocurrencies.
Which situation fits this idiom?
Pick the everyday scene where “과유불급” fits best.
3 Origin
4 Key Lessons
The best approach isn't always the maximum approach; true mastery lies in knowing where to draw the line.
When driven by intense emotion or greed, step back to regain an objective sense of balance.
In relationships and goal-setting, over-commitment often leads to burnout or counterproductive results.
5 English Expression
English Vocabulary
figure out
이해하다, 알아내다
"I finally figured out how to solve the problem."
lately
최근에
"I haven't seen her around much lately."
urgency
긴급함, 절박함
"There was a sense of urgency in his voice."
fade
희미해지다, 사라지다
"The color of the curtains will fade in the sun."
6 Learn with Music
Related Idioms
과유불급
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