1.
superfluous addition; something unnecessary
An unnecessary addition that spoils or detracts from what was already complete. From a Chinese fable in which a man, having drawn a snake faster than anyone else, ruined his picture by adding legs to it. Literally 'snake legs.'
蛇足かもしれないが、ひとつ付け加えたい。
This may be unnecessary, but I'd like to add one thing.
説明を加えたが、蛇足だったかもしれない。
I added an explanation, but it may have been superfluous.
蛇足ながら、もう一点だけ注意事項をお伝えします。
At the risk of belaboring the point, let me mention just one more precaution.
USAGE:
蛇足 is often used as a polite hedge before adding a comment the speaker suspects may be unnecessary. The phrase 蛇足ながら or 蛇足かもしれないが serves as a softener. It is common in writing and formal speech.
ETYMOLOGY:
From a Chinese fable (故事成語) in which contestants raced to draw a snake. The winner finished first but then added legs, disqualifying his entry. The moral: do not ruin a good thing by adding what is not needed.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 蛇足ながら (at the risk of being superfluous)
- 蛇足を加える (add something unnecessary)
- 蛇足になるが (this may be superfluous, but)
SIMILAR WORDS:
余計 means 'extra' or 'unnecessary' in everyday language. 蛇足 is more literary and specifically implies ruining something good by overdoing it.