不以词害志

Traditional form:

不以詞害誌

Pinyin (reading):

bùyǐcíhàizhì

Definitions:

• don't let rhetoric spoil the message (idiom); don't get carried away with flowery speech to the detriment of what you want to say

Characters:

• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 以 - according to; so as to; because of; then
• 词 - phrase, expression; words, speech
• 害 - to injure, to harm; to destroy, to kill
• 志 - determination, will; mark, sign; to record, to write

Traditional characters:

• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 以 - according to; so as to; because of; then
• 詞 - phrase, expression; words, speech
• 害 - to injure, to harm; to destroy, to kill
• 誌 - determination, will; mark, sign; to record, to write