不以词害志 bù yǐ cí hài zhì

DEFINITIONS

  1. don't let rhetoric spoil the message (idiom); don't get carried away with flowery speech to the detriment of what you want to say

CHARACTERS

不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
以 yǐ
HSK 2
by means of; thereby, therefore; consider as; in order to
词 cí
HSK 3
words; phrase, expression
害 hài
HSK 3
injure, harm; destroy, kill
志 zhì
HSK 4
purpose, will, determination; annals