寥若晨星 as rare as morning stars
Explanation
形容数量极少，像早晨的星星一样稀疏。
Describes a very small number, as sparse as the stars in the morning sky.
Origin Story
唐朝时期，一个偏远山村里，有一位老中医，医术精湛，远近闻名。但是，由于交通不便，以及人们普遍迷信巫医，真正寻求他治疗的人寥若晨星。老中医并未因此气馁，他依然坚持每天在村口摆摊，为村民们诊治。虽然求医者少，但他依然认真对待每一位病人，精益求精，不断提升自己的医术。他坚信，只要自己坚持下去，总有一天会得到更多人的认可。渐渐地，他的医德和医术得到了村民们的广泛赞扬，慕名而来的病人也越来越多，不再是寥若晨星了。
During the Tang Dynasty, in a remote mountain village, there was an old doctor whose superb medical skills were renowned far and wide. However, due to inconvenient transportation and the widespread belief in witch doctors, those who sought his treatment were as rare as morning stars. The old doctor was not discouraged by this and still insisted on setting up a stall at the village entrance every day to treat villagers. Although there were few patients, he still treated each one seriously, striving for excellence and continuously improving his medical skills. He firmly believed that as long as he persevered, he would eventually be recognized by more people. Gradually, his medical ethics and skills were widely praised by the villagers, and the number of patients who came to see him increased, no longer as rare as morning stars.
Usage
用于形容事物或人数极少。
Used to describe that the number of things or people is very small.
Examples
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如今，学习古典文学的人寥若晨星。
rújīn, xuéxí gǔdiǎn wénxué de rén liáoruò chénxīng
Nowadays, those who study classical literature are as rare as morning stars.
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在这个领域，有真才实学的专家寥若晨星。
zài zhège lǐngyù, yǒu zhēncái shíxué de zhuānjiā liáoruò chénxīng
In this field, experts with true skills are as rare as morning stars