一钱不值 yī qián bù zhí Not worth a penny

Explanation

比喻毫无价值。

Metaphorically means worthless.

Origin Story

话说，战国时期，有个名叫程不识的人，为人奸诈，经常喜欢说一些没用的闲话，总是让别人觉得他很不靠谱，甚至有些讨厌。有一次，丞相田蚡举办宴会，邀请了许多宾客，灌夫也去参加了。酒过三巡，灌夫兴致高昂，就向田蚡敬酒，可是田蚡却很冷淡地拒绝了他。灌夫心里很不舒服，就跑到临汝侯灌贤面前，看到灌贤和程不识正在窃窃私语，就大声骂道：“程不识这个人一钱不值，还跟灌贤耳语，像个妇人一样！” 这句话也让在场的宾客们都忍俊不禁，因为大家都知道程不识的为人，的确一钱不值，灌夫的话也正中靶心。

huì shuō, zhàn guó shí qī, yǒu ge míng jiào chéng bù shí de rén, wéi rén jiān zhà, jīng cháng xǐ huan shuō yī xiē méi yòng de xián huà, zǒng shì ràng bié rén jué de tā hěn bù kào pǔ, shèn zhì yǒu xiē tǎo yàn. yǒu yī cì, chéng xiàng tián fěn jǔ bàn yàn huì, yāo qǐng le xǔ duō bīn kè, guàn fū yě qù cān jiā le. jiǔ guò sān xún, guàn fū xìng zhì gāo áng, jiù xiàng tián fěn jìng jiǔ, kě shì tián fěn què hěn lěng dàn de jù jué le tā. guàn fū xīn lǐ hěn bù shū fú, jiù pǎo dào lín rǔ hóu guàn xián miàn qián, kàn dào guàn xián hé chéng bù shí zhèng zài qiè qiè sī yǔ, jiù dà shēng mà dào: “chéng bù shí zhè ge rén yī qián bù zhí, hái gēn guàn xián ěr yǔ, xiàng ge fù rén yī yàng!” zhè jù huà yě ràng zài chǎng de bīn kè men dōu rěn jùn bù jīn, yīn wèi dà jiā dōu zhī dào chéng bù shí de wéi rén, dí què yī qián bù zhí, guàn fū de huà yě zhèng zhōng bǎi xīn.

It is said that during the Warring States Period, there was a man named Cheng Bushi who was a cunning fellow and often liked to talk about useless things. He was always unreliable, and sometimes even annoying to others. Once, the Prime Minister Tian Fen held a banquet and invited many guests. Guan Fu also attended. After a few rounds of wine, Guan Fu was in high spirits and toasted Tian Fen, but Tian Fen coldly refused him. Guan Fu was unhappy and went to Guan Xian, the Marquis of Linru, and saw that Guan Xian and Cheng Bushi were whispering. He shouted loudly:

Usage

形容某事物或某人毫无价值，没有任何作用。

xióng róng mǒu shì wù huò mǒu rén háo wú jià zhí, méi yǒu rén hé zuò yòng.

Describes something or someone as worthless and useless.

Examples

• 这件东西一钱不值，你还是别买了。

  zhè jiàn dōng xi yī qián bù zhí, nǐ hái shì bié mǎi le.

  This thing is not worth a penny, you should not buy it.

• 他的计划一钱不值，根本不可能实现。

  tā de jì huà yī qián bù zhí, gēn běn bù kě néng shí xiàn.

  His plan is not worth a penny, it can never be realized.

• 他这个人一钱不值，根本不值得信任。

  tā zhè ge rén yī qián bù zhí, gēn běn bù zhí de xìn rèn

  He is not worth a penny, he is not trustworthy at all.

Related Idioms

• 一文不值

• 毫无价值

Opposite Idioms

• 价值连城

• 弥足珍贵