治丝益棼

Traditional form:

治絲益棼

Pinyin (reading):

zhìsīyìfén

Definitions:

• lit. try to straighten out silk threads only to tangle them further (idiom)
• fig. to try to help but end up making things worse

Characters:

• 治 - to administer, to govern, to regulate
• 丝 - silk, fine thread; wire; strings
• 益 - to profit, to benefit; advantage
• 棼 - rafters; disordered, confused

Traditional characters:

• 治 - to administer, to govern, to regulate
• 絲 - silk, fine thread; wire; strings
• 益 - to profit, to benefit; advantage
• 棼 - rafters; disordered, confused