# 急于求成

jí yú qiú chéng

Be too eager for quick results

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Be anxious to seek success

**Traditional Chinese:** 急於求成

**Register:** Critical · conversational

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Use when impatience pushes someone to rush a process.

It is usually critical of impatience, rather than of ambition itself.

## Behind the words

The expression connects urgent eagerness with the pursuit of success. It warns that focusing on the result too quickly can weaken the process.

The expression criticizes impatience for an outcome when the necessary process has not been respected. It may describe rushing, skipping foundations, or expecting immediate returns. It is different from acting quickly when prepared. Compare 拔苗助长: 急于求成 names the impatient attitude, while 拔苗助长 highlights an intervention that harms development.

## Examples

学语言不要急于求成，先把基础练好。

### Traditional Chinese

學語言不要急於求成，先把基礎練好。

xué yǔ yán bú yào jí yú qiú chéng ， xiān bǎ jī chǔ liàn hǎo 。

Don’t rush for quick results in language learning; build the foundations first.

他急于求成，基础没学好就开始做复杂项目。

### Traditional Chinese

他急於求成，基礎沒學好就開始做複雜項目。

tā jí yú qiú chéng ， jī chǔ méi xué hǎo jiù kāi shǐ zuò fù zá xiàng mù 。

He rushed toward results and began a complex project before learning the basics.

恢复训练不能急于求成，要给身体时间。

### Traditional Chinese

恢復訓練不能急於求成，要給身體時間。

huī fù xùn liàn bù néng jí yú qiú chéng ， yào gěi shēn tǐ shí jiān 。

Do not rush your return to training; give your body time.

团队急于求成，没测试就上线，结果出现很多问题。

### Traditional Chinese

團隊急於求成，沒測試就上線，結果出現很多問題。

tuán duì jí yú qiú chéng ， méi cè shì jiù shàng xiàn ， jié guǒ chū xiàn hěn duō wèn tí 。

The team rushed to launch without testing and encountered many problems.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 4, 2026.

- [Wiktionary · usage cross-check](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%80%A5%E6%96%BC%E6%B1%82%E6%88%90)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%80%A5%E6%96%BC%E6%B1%82%E6%88%90)

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