# 因噎废食

yīn yē fèi shí

Abandon something useful because of a risk

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Stop eating after choking

**Traditional Chinese:** 因噎廢食

**Register:** Cautionary · formal

[Choices & judgment](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/decisions)

## When to use it

Warn against avoiding all benefit due to one danger.

Serious hazards still warrant sensible precautions.

## Understanding the expression

Eating carries a risk of choking, but giving up food entirely creates a much greater problem. The expression criticizes a response that removes an essential or beneficial activity rather than managing its risk. Modern examples include ending cooperation after one failure or refusing technology because mistakes occur. The phrase does not deny danger. It encourages proportionate safeguards instead of a blanket retreat that causes unnecessary loss of useful opportunities.

## Examples

不能因噎废食，完全拒绝合作。

### Traditional Chinese

不能因噎廢食，完全拒絕合作。

bù néng yīn yē fèi shí ， wán quán jù jué hé zuò 。

We should not reject all cooperation because of one risk.

一次失败不该让你因噎废食。

### Traditional Chinese

一次失敗不該讓你因噎廢食。

yí cì shī bài bù gāi ràng nǐ yīn yē fèi shí 。

One failure should not make you abandon the activity.

担心误用就停课，是因噎废食。

### Traditional Chinese

擔心誤用就停課，是因噎廢食。

dān xīn wù yòng jiù tíng kè ， shì yīn yē fèi shí 。

Canceling classes over possible misuse throws away the benefit.

她制定规则，避免因噎废食。

### Traditional Chinese

她制定規則，避免因噎廢食。

tā zhì dìng guī zé ， bì miǎn yīn yē fèi shí 。

She set safeguards instead of abandoning the activity entirely.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%9B%A0%E5%99%8E%E5%BB%A2%E9%A3%9F)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=182&webMd=1&la=0)

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