揠苗助长 yàmiáo-zhùzhǎng to ruin things through impatience (idiom); to force growth
How to remember 揠苗助长: 揠 to pull up + 苗 sprouts + 助 to help + 长 long = to ruin things through impatience (idiom); to force growth.
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How it is used
- Pulling up sprouts to 'help' them grow (idiom) - ruining things by forcing haste - 教育孩子不能揠苗助长 (jiàoyù háizi bùnéng yàmiáo-zhùzhǎng) don't rush a child's development.
- Same as 拔苗助长 (bámiáo-zhùzhǎng). A warning that impatient over-help backfires.