养痈贻患 Yǎng Yōng Yí Huàn to harbor a festering sore and bring trouble on oneself

Explanation

比喻姑息坏人坏事，结果给自己带来祸患。

To metaphorically condone bad people and bad things, which will ultimately bring disaster to oneself.

Origin Story

很久以前，在一个小山村里，住着一位善良的村长。村里来了个地痞流氓，经常偷鸡摸狗，欺压百姓。村长念及他也是个可怜人，便一次次地宽容他。结果，地痞流氓变本加厉，最终酿成大祸，村子陷入一片混乱。村长这才意识到自己犯了养痈贻患的错误，后悔莫及。

hěn jiǔ yǐqián, zài yīgè xiǎoshān cūn lǐ, zhù zhe yī wèi shànliáng de cūn zhǎng. cūn lǐ lái le gè dìpi liúmáng, jīng cháng tōu jī mō gǒu, qīyā bǎixìng. cūn zhǎng niàn jí tā yě shì gè kělián rén, biàn yī cì cì de kuānróng tā. jiéguǒ, dìpi liúmáng biàn běn jiā lì, zuìzhōng niàng chéng dà huò, cūn zi rù xiàn yī piàn hùnluàn. cūn zhǎng cái zhè cái yìshí dào zìjǐ fàn le yǎng yōng yí huàn de cuòwù, hòuhuǐ mò jí.

Long ago, in a small village, lived a kind village head. A hooligan came to the village, often stealing and cheating, oppressing the people. The village head, out of pity, forgave him again and again. As a result, the hooligan became more rampant, eventually causing great harm, and the village fell into chaos. Only then did the village head realize his mistake of tolerating evil and regretted it deeply.

Usage

用于形容纵容坏人坏事造成的后果。

yòng yú xíngróng zòngróng huài rén huài shì zàochéng de hòuguǒ

Used to describe the consequences of condoning bad people and bad things.

Examples

• 纵容犯罪分子，只会养痈贻患，最终害人害己。

  zòngróng fànzuì fènzǐ, zhǐ huì yǎng yōng yí huàn, zuìzhōng hài rén hài jǐ.

  Tolerating criminals will only lead to future trouble, ultimately harming both others and oneself.

• 对错误的容忍，无异于养痈贻患，最终将导致更大的损失。

  duì cuòwù de róngrěn, wúyì yú yǎng yōng yí huàn, zuìzhōng jiāng dǎozhì gèng dà de sǔnshī.

  Tolerance of mistakes is akin to cultivating festering sores, ultimately leading to greater losses.

Related Idioms

• 养虎遗患

• 后患无穷

Opposite Idioms

• 斩草除根

• 除恶务尽