参差不齐 uneven
Explanation
参差，指长短、高低不齐。参差不齐形容水平不一或很不整齐。多用于形容事物或人的情况不一致，缺乏统一性。
Cēn cī bù qí describes something that is uneven or inconsistent in quality or level. It is commonly used to describe people or things that are not uniform and lack consistency.
Origin Story
在一个古老的村庄里，住着一位技艺精湛的木匠。他为村民们制作了许多精美的家具，从精致的雕花床到结实的木桌椅，都深受村民们的喜爱。但是，有一天，村长前来定制一批新的木椅，要求数量巨大。木匠为了赶工期，招募了许多学徒帮忙。这些学徒的技艺参差不齐，有的技艺高超，做出来的椅子精巧完美；有的技艺粗糙，做出来的椅子歪歪扭扭，甚至有缺口。最后，木匠不得不花费更多的时间来检查和修补这些椅子，虽然最终完成了任务，但他深感疲惫，也意识到了技艺参差不齐带来的不便。他决定以后严格挑选学徒，确保每一件作品的质量。
In an ancient village, there lived a skilled carpenter who crafted beautiful furniture for the villagers. His work, from intricately carved beds to sturdy tables and chairs, was highly prized. One day, the village elder commissioned a large number of new chairs. To meet the deadline, the carpenter hired many apprentices, whose skills varied greatly. Some were highly skilled, producing exquisite chairs; others were less adept, creating wobbly, flawed pieces. The carpenter had to spend extra time inspecting and repairing the uneven work. Though he completed the order, he felt exhausted and realized the problems caused by inconsistent skill levels. He vowed to be more selective in choosing apprentices to ensure the quality of future work.
Usage
形容水平不一，或很不整齐。常用于形容一群人或一批事物在水平、质量等方面参差不齐的情况。
To describe that something is uneven or inconsistent in quality or level. It’s often used to describe a group of people or a batch of things whose level or quality is not consistent.
Examples
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会议室里坐满了人，但他们的发言水平参差不齐。
huiyishi li zuo man le ren, dan tamen de fayuan shuiping canchabuqi
The meeting room was full of people, but their speaking skills were uneven.
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这些学生学习态度积极，但成绩却参差不齐。
zhexie xuesheng xuexi taidu jiji, dan chengji que canchabuqi
These students have a positive attitude towards learning, but their grades are uneven.