小作怡情,大作伤身

xiǎo zuō yí qíng , dà zuō shāng shēn

an occasional display of histrionics can add a playful element to a relationship, but overdoing it can lead to a breakup (admonishment derived from the saying 小酌怡情,大酌傷身|小酌怡情,大酌伤身[xiao3 zhuo2 yi2 qing2 , da4 zhuo2 shang1 shen1])

小

xiǎo

small

作

zuō

(bound form) worker

怡

yí

harmony

情

qíng

(bound form) feelings; emotion; sentiment; passion

,

,

大

dà

big; large; great

作

zuō

(bound form) worker

伤

shāng

to injure

身

shēn

body