分文不值 fēn wén bù zhí worthless

Explanation

形容毫无价值。

describes something as worthless.

Origin Story

从前，有个穷书生，为了参加科举考试，卖掉了家里仅有的几亩薄田。结果，他落榜了，不仅没能考取功名，还身无分文。他十分沮丧，来到城外的一座破庙里休息。这时，一位老和尚走了过来，看见他愁眉苦脸的样子，便问他发生了什么事。书生把自己的遭遇告诉了老和尚。老和尚听后，叹了口气说：“人生在世，名利如浮云，你所追求的东西，其实分文不值。”书生听了老和尚的话，心中豁然开朗。他意识到，比起功名利禄，更重要的是自身的价值和修养。他决定重新开始，不再为名利所困扰。他开始学习农耕技术，并利用自己的知识帮助乡邻解决问题。几年后，书生不仅过上了富足的生活，还赢得了乡亲们的尊重。他明白，真正的价值不在于名利，而在于对社会的贡献。

cóng qián, yǒu gè qióng shūshēng, wèile cānjiā kējǔ kǎoshì, mài diào le jiā lǐ jǐn yǒu de jǐ mǔ bó tián. jiéguǒ, tā luò bǎng le, bù jǐn méi néng kǎoqǔ gōngmíng, hái shēn wú fēn wén. tā shífēn jǔsàng, lái dào chéng wài de yī zuò pò miào lǐ xiūxi. zhè shí, yī wèi lǎo héshang zǒu le guòlái, kànjiàn tā chóuméi kǔ liǎn de yàngzi, biàn wèn tā fāshēng le shénme shì. shūshēng bǎ zìjǐ de zāoyù gàosù le lǎo héshang. lǎo héshang tīng hòu, tàn le kǒu qì shuō:“rénshēng zài shì, mínglì rú fúyún, nǐ suǒ zhuīqiú de dōngxi, qíshí fēn wén bù zhí.” shūshēng tīng le lǎo héshang de huà, xīnzōng huòrán kāilǎng. tā yìshí dào, bǐ qǐ gōngmíng lìlù, gèng zhòngyào de shì zìshēn de jiàzhí hé xiūyǎng. tā juédìng chóngxīn kāishǐ, bù zài wèi mínglì suǒ kùnrǎo. tā kāishǐ xuéxí nónggēng jìshù, bìng lìyòng zìjǐ de zhīshì bāngzhù xiānglín jiějué wèntí. jǐ nián hòu, shūshēng bù jǐn guò le shàng fùzú de shēnghuó, hái yíngdé le xiāngqīn men de zūnjìng. tā míngbái, zhēnzhèng de jiàzhí bù zài yú mínglì, ér zài yú duì shèhuì de gòngxiàn.

Once upon a time, there was a poor scholar who sold his only few acres of land to take the imperial examination. However, he failed the exam and was penniless. Disheartened, he sought refuge in a dilapidated temple outside the city. There, he met an old monk who asked him about his troubles. The scholar told him his story. The monk sighed and said, "In life, fame and fortune are fleeting; what you have pursued is worthless." The scholar felt relieved. He realized that self-worth and cultivation are more important than fame and fortune. He started anew, unburdened by ambition. He learned farming and helped his neighbors with his knowledge. After several years, he lived a prosperous life and gained the respect of his fellow villagers. He understood that true value doesn't lie in fame and fortune, but in contributing to society.

Usage

用于形容事物毫无价值。

yòng yú xiángróng shìwù háo wú jiàzhí

Used to describe something as completely worthless.

Examples

• 这块石头分文不值。

  zhè kuài shítou fēn wén bù zhí

  This stone is worthless.

• 他送给我的礼物分文不值。

  tā sòng gěi wǒ de lǐwù fēn wén bù zhí

  The gift he gave me is worthless.

Related Idioms

• 一文不名

• 一钱不值

Opposite Idioms

• 价值连城

• 价值不菲