📖 Meaning
To cling rigidly to the literal wording of a text and thereby damage or distort its true meaning. It describes the error of over-literal interpretation that sacrifices content and intent to surface form. Often used to criticize pedantic readings of classics or documents.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom first appears in the Song dynasty in a memorial written by the great statesman and writer Su Shi (苏轼), titled 《应诏论四事状》 (A Memorial Discussing Four Matters in Response to the Imperial Decree). In it, Su Shi explains that certain policy failures arose because the salt-monopoly office 'clung to the wording and harmed the meaning' — that is, officials followed the text of regulations so literally that they ignored their intended purpose. The phrase was later adopted by other Song scholars; the Song writer Chen Shan (陈善) quotes it in his 《扪虱新话》 when criticizing those who take scripture so literally that they discard the received explanations. Over time 执文害意 became a standard warning against rigid, unthinking literalism.
💡 Example Usage
读书不能执文害意，要结合上下文领会作者本意。
When reading, one must not cling so rigidly to the literal wording that it harms the meaning; instead, one should grasp the author's intent in light of the context.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 执文害意
- Pinyin: zhí wén hài yì
- Literal Translation: cling to text, harm meaning
- Category: Logic
- Characters: 4