小作怡情，大作伤身

Traditional form:

小作怡情，大作傷身

Pinyin (reading):

xiǎozuō-yíqíng,dàzuō-shāngshēn

Definitions:

• an occasional display of histrionics can add a playful element to a relationship, but overdoing it can lead to a breakup (admonishment derived from the saying 小酌怡情，大酌傷身／小酌怡情，大酌伤身 (xiǎozhuo-yiqing,dàzhuo-shàngshèn))

Characters:

• 小 - small, tiny, insignificant
• 作 - to make; to write, to compose; to act, to perform
• 怡 - gladness, joy, pleasure; harmony
• 情 - emotion, feeling, sentiment
• 大 - big, great, vast, high, deep
• 作 - to make; to write, to compose; to act, to perform
• 伤 - to injure, to harm; wound, injury; to fall ill
• 身 - body, torso; person; pregnancy

Traditional characters:

• 小 - small, tiny, insignificant
• 作 - to make; to write, to compose; to act, to perform
• 怡 - gladness, joy, pleasure; harmony
• 情 - emotion, feeling, sentiment
• 大 - big, great, vast, high, deep
• 作 - to make; to write, to compose; to act, to perform
• 傷 - to injure, to harm; wound, injury; to fall ill
• 身 - body, torso; person; pregnancy