节外生枝
jié wài shēng zhī
to create new complications
Character by character
节jié
node
node
外wài
outside
outside
生shēng
grow
grow
枝zhī
branch
branch
Example
合同快签了，千万别再节外生枝。
The contract's nearly signed; let's not have any new complications.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
A branch sprouting where there is no node: needless new problems.
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