適可而止

适可而止
shìkě'érzhǐ

to stop when appropriate; not to overdo; enough is enough

Wiktionary

Homographs

適可而止 shìkěérzhǐ (idiom) to refrain from going too far; to know when to stop

Entry Composition

=1 適 Shì surname Shi
=1 適 shì
  1. to fit
  2. suitable
  3. proper
  4. just (now)
  5. comfortable
  6. well
  7. to go
  8. to follow or pursue
=1 適 dí
  1. alternative form of 嫡 (dí, “legal wife; legal wife's son”)
  2. alternative form of 敵 /敌 (dí, “enemy; to rival”)
  3. to devote; to dedicate (to one thing)
=1 適 tì only used in 適適 (“frightened; at a loss”)
=1 適 zhé alternative form of 謫 /谪 (zhé, “to blame; to punish; to banish; fault”)
=2 可 kě
  1. (prefix) can; may; able to; -able
  2. to approve; to permit
  3. to suit
  4. (particle used for emphasis) certainly; very
  5. but; however
=2 可 kè used in 可汗 kèhán
3 而 ér
  1. and
  2. as well as
  3. and so
  4. but (not)
  5. yet (not)
  6. (indicates causal relation)
  7. (indicates change of state)
  8. (indicates contrast)
4 止 zhǐ
  1. to stop
  2. to prohibit
  3. until
  4. only