Cleverness will eventually overreach itself

聪明反被聪明误

cōngmíng fǎn bèi cōngmíng wù

Cleverness will eventually overreach itself

用法说明

"聪明反被聪明误"是说自以为聪明的人却最终被聪明所害,常用来告诫别人不要自作聪明.

"聪明反被聪明误" means that overconfident people will eventually be victimized by his or her own cleverness at some point. People are usually advised not to be a clumsy liar.

例句

1. 甲：他那么聪明,怎么这次失算了呢？

Jiǎ: Tā nàme cōngmíng, zěnme zhècì shīsuàn le ne?

A: He is so clever, why did he misjudge the matter this time?

乙：这就叫"聪明反被聪明误".

Yǐ: Zhè jiù jiào "cōngmíng fǎn bèi cōngmíng wù".

B: This is called "cleverness will eventually overreach itself."

2. 甲：做人还是谦虚点好,不能过于聪明.

Jiǎ: Zuòrén háishì qiānxū diǎn hǎo, bùnéng guòyú cōngmíng.

A: A person should be modest, as being too clever will come back to haunt you.

乙：是呀,不然可就"聪明反被聪明误"了.

Yǐ: Shì ya, bùrán kějiù "cōngmíng fǎn bèi cōngmíng wù" le.

B: Right. Or the cleverness will eventually overreach itself.

(Source: myechinese.com)