弄巧反拙 to try to be clever and end up being clumsy
Explanation
本想耍弄聪明，结果却适得其反，做了蠢事，比喻想做巧事，结果反而把事情弄糟了。
Originally wanted to be clever, but the result was counterproductive, did something stupid, metaphorically means that you want to do something clever, but end up making things worse.
Origin Story
从前，有个秀才，为了参加科举考试，他夜以继日地苦读，希望能够考中状元。他听说皇帝很喜欢书法，便苦练书法，希望以此博得皇帝的青睐。可是，他的书法虽然有所进步，但仍然稚嫩，为了让书法看起来更精妙，他绞尽脑汁，故意模仿各种名家的风格，结果，他的书法变得不伦不类，最终落选了。他本想通过精妙的书法来提高自己的竞争力，结果却弄巧反拙，与状元失之交臂。
Once upon a time, there was a scholar who studied day and night to pass the imperial examinations and become a high-ranking official. He heard that the emperor loved calligraphy, so he practiced diligently to win his favor. But his calligraphy was still clumsy, and he tried to improve it by imitating different styles. In the end, however, his calligraphy became chaotic, and he failed the examinations. He had hoped to improve his skills, but it backfired.
Usage
用于形容因过于追求技巧或聪明而导致结果适得其反的情况。
Used to describe the situation where the result is counterproductive due to the pursuit of too much skill or cleverness.
Examples
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他本想出奇制胜，结果却弄巧反拙，输掉了比赛。
tā běn xiǎng chū qí zhì shèng, jiéguǒ què nòng qiǎo fǎn zhuō, shū diào le bǐsài。
He wanted to win by surprise, but ended up making a fool of himself and lost the game.
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为了赶时间，他抄近路，结果弄巧反拙，反而迟到了。
wèile gǎn shíjiān, tā chāo jìnlù, jiéguǒ nòng qiǎo fǎn zhuō, fǎn'ér chí dào le。
To save time, he took a shortcut, but it backfired, and he was late.
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她想通过复杂的策略赢得朋友，但是弄巧反拙，反而得罪了他们。
tā xiǎng tōngguò fùzá de cèlüè yíngdé péngyou, dànshì nòng qiǎo fǎn zhuō, fǎn'ér dào le tāmen。
She tried to win friends by using complex strategies, but it backfired, and she offended them instead.