姑息養奸 gū xī yǎng jiān

to tolerate evil; indulgence lets harm grow

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. to tolerate is to nurture an evildoer (idiom); spare the rod and spoil the child

Characters

Character Meaning
姑 gū HSK 5
paternal aunt; husband's sister
息 xī HSK 2
news; to rest; breath
養 yǎng
to bring up (children); to raise (animals); to keep (pets)
奸 jiān
wicked; crafty; adultery