谨小慎微 cautious and meticulous
Explanation
谨慎小心，过于小心谨慎，不敢放手去做。形容人做事小心谨慎，过于小心。
Careful and cautious, overly cautious and cautious, not willing to let go. Describes a person who is careful and cautious and overly cautious.
Origin Story
从前，有个年轻的书生，名叫李明，他性格极其谨小慎微，凡事都力求完美，生怕出任何差错。一次，他奉命前往京城参加科举考试，路上，他不仅小心翼翼地保护好自己的考卷，还反复检查，生怕丢失或者损坏。他沿途住宿，也谨慎选择客栈，生怕遇到不安全的事情。到了京城，他更是战战兢兢，生怕因为一点小事就影响考试发挥。考试当天，他提前很久就到达考场，仔细检查文房四宝，反复推敲考试内容，生怕因为一点小疏忽而导致失败。考试结束后，他再次谨慎地整理好自己的考卷，生怕有任何闪失。结果，李明因为过度紧张，发挥失常，考试落榜。他回到家乡后，才明白，过分的谨小慎微，有时候会适得其反。
Once upon a time, there was a young scholar named Li Ming, who was extremely cautious and meticulous in his nature, striving for perfection in everything, afraid of making any mistakes. Once, he was ordered to go to the capital to take the imperial examinations. On the way, he not only carefully protected his examination papers but also repeatedly checked them for fear of loss or damage. He carefully chose his inns along the way, fearing that he would encounter any unsafe incidents. In the capital, he was even more nervous, fearing that even a small matter would affect his performance in the exam. On the day of the exam, he arrived at the examination hall long in advance, carefully checked his writing materials, and repeatedly pondered the exam content, fearing that a slight oversight would lead to failure. After the exam, he carefully organized his examination papers again, fearing any mishap. As a result, Li Ming, due to excessive nervousness, performed poorly and failed the exam. Only after returning to his hometown did he realize that excessive caution can sometimes be counterproductive.
Usage
用于形容人做事过分小心谨慎，不敢放手去做。
Used to describe a person who is too careful and cautious and does not dare to let go.
Examples
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他做事总是谨小慎微，生怕犯错。
tā zuòshì zǒngshì jǐnxiǎoshènwēi, shēngpà fàncuò.
He is always very cautious in doing things, for fear of making mistakes.
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她性格谨小慎微，缺乏魄力。
tā xìnggé jǐnxiǎoshènwēi,quēfá pòlì
She is inherently cautious and hesitant and lacks decisiveness..