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治絲益棼

简治丝益棼 · 繁治絲益棼

Mandarin · pinyin zhì sī yì fén

lit. try to straighten out silk threads only to tangle them further (idiom)
fig. to try to help but end up making things worse

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Characters in this entry

治: zhì · govern, regulate, administer
絲: Look up this written character
益: yì · profit, benefit; advantage; hexagram ䷩
棼: fén · beams in the roof of a house; confused, disordered
丝: sī · silk; fine thread; wire; strings

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

4–1–4–2 · zhi4 si1 yi4 fen2

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