📖 Meaning
Refers to behavior or governance that is excessively harsh, severe, and overly meticulous in scrutiny. It originally described officials who competed to be the most stringent and nitpicking in administering law. Used critically of those who mistake harsh nitpicking for astuteness.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from Sima Qian's 'Shiji' (Records of the Grand Historian), in the chapter on Zhang Shizhi and Feng Tang, written during the Western Han Dynasty. The passage critiques the Qin Dynasty's reliance on harsh legalist clerks, who competed with one another to be the most severe and overly meticulous in their investigations. Zhang Shizhi cited this as a warning that such ruthless administration ultimately provoked rebellion and contributed to Qin's rapid collapse.
💡 Example Usage
为政之道贵在宽简，若亟疾苛察则民不堪其扰。
The essence of governance lies in tolerance and simplicity; if one rules with excessive severity and nitpicking scrutiny, the people will not be able to endure the constant harassment.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 亟疾苛察
- Pinyin: jí jí kē chá
- Literal Translation: urgent, fierce, harsh, scrutinizing
- Category: Method
- Characters: 4