不敢问津 Bù gǎn wèn jīn not dare to ask

Explanation

问津：询问渡口，问路。指对高深的事物不敢过问或尝试。

Wèn jīn: to ask about a ferry crossing or a road. Refers to something profound or mysterious that one does not dare to ask about or try.

Origin Story

很久以前，在一个偏远的小村庄里，住着一位饱读诗书的老学者。他一生潜心研究古代典籍，对那些深奥的经史子集有着独特的见解。然而，对于村里的一些家长里短，一些世俗的琐事，他却常常选择沉默，甚至避之不及。村民们渐渐发现，这位学者只对那些高深的学问感兴趣，对于日常生活中的一些鸡毛蒜皮的小事，他似乎完全没有兴趣，更不会主动过问。有人说，老学者是高风亮节，不屑于理会这些庸俗之事；也有人说，老学者是孤高自赏，不愿意与世俗同流合污。无论如何，老学者“不敢问津”的态度，成为了村里一个有趣的谈资。

hěnjiǔ yǐqián, zài yīgè piānyuǎn de xiǎocūn zhuāng lǐ, zhù zhe yī wèi bǎodú shūshū de lǎo xué zhě. tā yīshēng qiányīn yánjiū gǔdài diǎnjí, duì nàxiē shēn'ào de jīng shǐ zǐ jí yǒuzhe dútè de jiǎnjiě. rán'ér, duìyú cūn lǐ de yīxiē jiāzhǎng lǐ duǎn, yīxiē shìsú de suǒshì, tā què chángcháng xuǎnzé chénmò, shènzhì bì zhī bùjí. cūnmínmen jiànjiàn fāxiàn, zhè wèi xué zhě zhǐ duì nàxiē gāoshēn de xuéwèn gǎn xìngqù, duìyú rìcháng shēnghuó zhōng de yīxiē jī máo sàn pǐ de xiǎoshì, tā sìhū wánquán méiyǒu xìngqù, gèng bù huì zhǔdòng guò wèn. yǒurén shuō, lǎo xué zhě shì gāofēng liàngjié, bùxiè yú lǐhuì zhèxiē yōngsú zhīshì; yě yǒurén shuō, lǎo xué zhě shì gūgāo zìshǎng, bù yuànyì yǔ shìsú tóngliú héwū. wúlùn rúhé, lǎo xué zhě 'bù gǎn wèn jīn' de tàidu, chéngwéi le cūn lǐ yīgè yǒuqù de tánzī.

Long ago, in a remote village, there lived an old scholar who had read extensively. He dedicated his life to studying ancient texts, and had unique insights into the profound classics. However, he often chose to remain silent, even avoiding them, when it came to the daily affairs of the village and mundane matters. Villagers gradually discovered that this scholar was only interested in profound knowledge, and seemed completely uninterested in the trivial matters of daily life, let alone taking the initiative to inquire about them. Some said that the old scholar was of high moral character and was unwilling to deal with these mundane matters; others said that the old scholar was self-satisfied and did not want to mix with the mundane world. In any case, the old scholar's attitude of "not daring to ask" became an interesting topic of conversation in the village.

Usage

主要用于比喻对高深的事物不敢过问或尝试。

zhǔyào yòng yú bǐyù duì gāoshēn de shìwù bù gǎn guò wèn huò chángshì.

Mainly used to describe that one does not dare to ask or try something profound or mysterious.

Examples

• 面对那些高深莫测的难题，他不敢问津。

  miànduì nàxiē gāoshēn mò cè de nántí, tā bù gǎn wèn jīn.

  He didn't dare to ask about those profound and unpredictable problems.

• 对于那些复杂的理论问题，他常常不敢问津。

  duìyú nàxiē fùzá de lǐlùn wèntí, tā chángcháng bù gǎn wèn jīn.

  He often didn't dare to ask about those complex theoretical questions.

Related Idioms

• 敬而远之

• 望而却步

Opposite Idioms

• 刨根问底

• 探究