无用武之地 no room to display one's talent
Explanation
没有能够充分发挥才能的机会或场所。比喻有能力但没有机会施展。
There is no opportunity or place to fully display one's talents. It is used to describe someone who is capable but has no chance to show their abilities.
Origin Story
话说三国时期，诸葛亮辅佐刘备建立蜀汉政权，鞠躬尽瘁，死而后已。然而，蜀汉国力薄弱，地处偏隅，屡次北伐中原，终因力量不足而未能成功。诸葛亮的一生，虽然才华横溢，运筹帷幄，却也时常感到力不从心，壮志未酬。他那叱咤风云的军事才能，在面对强大的魏国时，常常显得无用武之地。诸葛亮仰天长叹：“我本雄才大略，可惜生不逢时，这天下一统的大业，终究是与我无缘了！” 他的一生都在为蜀汉的生存与发展而奔波，为实现统一中原的目标而鞠躬尽瘁，但面对强大的魏国，他的雄才大略却常常无用武之地，这成为他心中永远的遗憾。
During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang assisted Liu Bei in establishing the Shu Han regime, dedicating his life to the state until his death. However, Shu Han was weak and located in a remote area. Repeated northern expeditions to conquer the central plains ultimately failed due to insufficient strength. Zhuge Liang, despite his brilliant talent and strategic prowess, often felt powerless and unfulfilled. His formidable military abilities often proved useless against the powerful Wei Kingdom. Zhuge Liang sighed and said, "I possess great talent and strategic abilities, but I was born at the wrong time. The unification of the realm will ultimately remain beyond my reach!"
Usage
多用于表达个人才能得不到发挥的情况。
Often used to express that personal abilities cannot be displayed.
Examples
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他很有才华，可惜在这个单位里没有用武之地。
ta hen you caihua, kesi zai zhege danwei li meiyou yongwuzhidi.
He is very talented, but unfortunately, he has no room to show his talent in this company.
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毕业后，他一直找不到合适的工作，感觉自己的能力没有用武之地。
biyehou, ta yizhi zhao bu dao héshi de gongzuo, gandao ziji de nengli meiyou yongwuzhidi.
After graduation, he couldn't find a suitable job, feeling like his abilities had no place to be used.