作茧自缚 bind oneself with a cocoon
Explanation
比喻因自己的错误或行为而给自己带来困境或麻烦。
This idiom describes how one's own mistakes or actions can lead to difficulties or harm oneself.
Origin Story
很久以前，有一个勤劳的农夫，他养了一批蚕。蚕宝宝们吃着桑叶，一天天长大，吐丝结茧。农夫看着它们，心里充满了喜悦，他期待着蚕茧变成美丽的丝绸。然而，他并不知道，蚕茧也是蚕宝宝自己给自己编织的“牢笼”。蚕宝宝在茧中蜕变，最终破茧成蝶，飞向自由。但在这个过程中，蚕宝宝也经历了黑暗和痛苦。这个故事告诉我们，有时候，我们为了追求目标，会做出一些选择，但这些选择也可能成为我们前进路上的绊脚石。我们应该谨慎地做出选择，避免作茧自缚。
Long ago, there was a hardworking farmer who raised a batch of silkworms. The silkworms ate mulberry leaves and grew day by day, spinning cocoons. The farmer watched them with joy, looking forward to the cocoons turning into beautiful silk. However, he didn't know that the cocoon was also a 'prison' that the silkworms had woven for themselves. The silkworms metamorphosed in the cocoon and finally broke out, flying to freedom. But in this process, the silkworms also experienced darkness and pain. This story tells us that sometimes, in pursuit of our goals, we will make some choices, but these choices may also become stumbling blocks on our way forward. We should make choices cautiously to avoid harming ourselves.
Usage
作谓语、定语、宾语；指自作自受
Used as a predicate, attributive, and object; refers to self-inflicted consequences
Examples
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他为了追求完美，结果把自己逼到了绝境，真是作茧自缚。
ta wei le zhuqiu wanmei,jiegguo ba ziji bi dao le juejing,zhen shi zuo jian zi fu
He pursued perfection to such an extent that he drove himself into a dead end, truly a case of binding oneself with a cocoon.
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他过于谨慎，反而束缚了自己的发展，真是作茧自缚！
ta guoyuzhenshen,fan'er shufu le ziji de fazhan,zhen shi zuo jian zifu
He was too cautious, which hindered his own development. It's really a case of 'binding oneself with a cocoon'!