井底之蛙 jǐng dǐ zhī wā frog at the bottom of the well

Explanation

井底之蛙比喻见识短浅、目光狭隘的人，形容人没有见过世面，缺乏远见。这个成语告诉我们要不断学习、拓展视野，不要局限于自己的小圈子，要勇于走出舒适区，去探索更广阔的世界。

The idiom 'frog at the bottom of the well' is used to describe a person who is narrow-minded and short-sighted, lacking a broad perspective. It is a metaphor for someone who has not seen much of the world and lacks foresight. This idiom reminds us to constantly learn, broaden our horizons, and not limit ourselves to our small circles. We should be willing to step out of our comfort zones and explore the wider world.

Origin Story

从前，有一只青蛙住在枯井里，它从来没有跳出过井口，它以为这口枯井就是它生活的全部世界。一天，一只海龟来到枯井边，看到青蛙正悠闲地在井底游来游去，便好奇地问：“青蛙先生，听说你在这口井里生活了很多年，你见过外面广阔的天空吗？”青蛙骄傲地回答：“当然，我每天都能看到天空，它就像井口那么大，一点也不稀奇！”海龟笑着说：“你所看到的，只是一点点的天空而已，真正的天空比这大得多得多！它无边无际，像大海一样广阔！”青蛙听了，一脸怀疑地说：“你骗我，我每天都看着天空，它就是井口那么大，怎么可能会更大呢？”海龟没有办法让青蛙相信，只好摇摇头走了。青蛙依然固执地认为自己的见识是最广阔的，它永远也无法想象到天地的广阔无垠。

cóng qián, yǒu yī zhī qīng wā zhù zài kū jǐng lǐ, tā cóng lái méi yǒu tiào chū guò jǐng kǒu, tā yǐ wéi zhè kǒu kū jǐng jiù shì tā shēng huó de quán bù shì jiè. yī tiān, yī zhī hǎi guī lái dào kū jǐng biān, kàn dào qīng wā zhèng yōu xián de zài jǐng dǐ yóu lái yóu qù, biàn hào qí de wèn：“qīng wā xiān shēng, tīng shuō nǐ zài zhè kǒu jǐng lǐ shēng huó le hěn duō nián, nǐ jiàn guò wài miàn guǎng kuò de tiān kōng ma?” qīng wā jiāo ào de huí dá：“dāng rán, wǒ měi tiān dōu néng kàn dào tiān kōng, tā jiù xiàng jǐng kǒu nà me dà, yī diǎn yě bù xī qí!” hǎi guī xiào zhe shuō：“nǐ suǒ kàn dào de, zhǐ shì yī diǎn diǎn de tiān kōng ér yǐ, zhēn zhèng de tiān kōng bǐ zhè dà de duō de duō! tā wú biān wú jì, xiàng dà hǎi yī yàng guǎng kuò!” qīng wā tīng le, yī liǎn huái yí de shuō：“nǐ piàn wǒ, wǒ měi tiān dōu kàn zhe tiān kōng, tā jiù shì jǐng kǒu nà me dà, zěn me kě néng huì gèng dà ne?” hǎi guī méi yǒu bàn fǎ ràng qīng wā xiāo xìn, zhǐ hǎo yáo yáo tóu zǒu le. qīng wā yī rán gù zhí de rèn wéi zì jǐ de jiàn shì shì zuì guǎng kuò de, tā yǒng yuǎn yě wú fǎ xiǎng xiàng dào tiān dì de guǎng kuò wú yín.

Once upon a time, there was a frog living in a dry well. He had never jumped out of the well and thought the well was his entire world. One day, a turtle came to the well and saw the frog swimming around leisurely at the bottom. Curious, he asked: “Mr. Frog, I hear you have lived in this well for many years. Have you ever seen the vast sky outside?” 蛙骄傲地回答：“当然，我每天都能看到天空，它就像井口那么大，一点也不稀奇！” The frog proudly replied: “Of course, I can see the sky every day. It’s just as big as the well’s opening, nothing special!

Usage

井底之蛙这个成语比喻见识短浅的人，一般用于批评那些固执己见、不思进取的人。例如，当一个人总是用自己的经验去评判别人，或者总是把自己的想法强加于别人，我们可以用“井底之蛙”来形容他。

jǐng dǐ zhī wā zhè gè chéng yǔ bǐ yù jiàn shì duǎn qiǎn de rén, yī bān yòng yú pī píng nà xiē gù zhí jǐ jiàn, bù sī jìn qǔ de rén. lì rú, dāng yī gè rén zǒng shì yòng zì jǐ de jīng yàn qù píng pàn bié rén, huò zhě zǒng shì bǎ zì jǐ de xiǎng fǎ qiáng jiā yú bié rén, wǒ men kě yǐ yòng “jǐng dǐ zhī wā” lái xíng róng tā.

The idiom 'frog at the bottom of the well' is used to describe a person who is narrow-minded and short-sighted, lacking a broad perspective. It is often used to criticize those who are stubborn, cling to their own opinions, and are unwilling to embrace new ideas. For example, if someone always relies on their own experience to judge others, or always imposes their own thoughts on others, we can describe them as a 'frog at the bottom of the well'.

Examples

• 他总是井底之蛙，不知天高地厚。

  tā zǒng shì jǐng dǐ zhī wā, bù zhī tiān gāo dì hòu.

  He is always a frog at the bottom of the well, he doesn't know how high the sky is.

• 不要做井底之蛙，要多出去看看外面的世界。

  bù yào zuò jǐng dǐ zhī wā, yào duō chū qù kàn kàn wài miàn de shì jiè.

  Don't be a frog at the bottom of the well, go out and see the world.

• 不要被眼前的利益所迷惑，要像海龟一样，看得更远一些。

  bù yào bèi yǎn qián de lì yì suǒ mí huò, yào xiàng hǎi guī yī yàng, kàn de gèng yuǎn yī xiē.

  Don't be blinded by the immediate benefits, be like a turtle, see further.

Related Idioms

• 坐井观天

• 一孔之见

Opposite Idioms

• 见多识广

• 博学多识