清汤寡水 qīng tāng guǎ shuǐ thin broth, little substance

Explanation

形容食物或生活简单、缺乏滋味或趣味。

Describes food or life as simple, lacking flavor or interest.

Origin Story

从前，有个穷书生，为了准备科举考试，他每天都吃着清汤寡水的饭菜。他住在一个简陋的小屋子里，没有华丽的装饰，也没有美味佳肴。但他并不觉得苦闷，因为他对学习充满热情，他相信只要坚持不懈，就能考取功名，改变自己清汤寡水的命运。他每天坚持读书，即使是寒冷的冬夜，也依然伏案苦读。终于，皇天不负有心人，他考中了状元，从此过上了富裕的生活。但他并没有忘记过去清汤寡水的日子，仍然保持着勤俭节约的好习惯。

cóng qián, yǒu gè qióng shū shēng, wèi le zhǔn bèi kē jǔ kǎoshì, tā měi tiān dōu chī zhe qīng tāng guǎ shuǐ de fàn cài。tā zhù zài yīgè jiǎn lòu de xiǎo wū zi lǐ, méi yǒu huá lì de zhuāng shì, yě méi yǒu měi wèi jiā yáo。dàn tā bìng bù jué de kǔ mèn, yīn wèi tā duì xué xí chōng mǎn rè qíng, tā xiāngxìn zhǐ yào jiān chí bù xiè, jiù néng kǎo qǔ gōng míng, gǎi biàn zì jǐ qīng tāng guǎ shuǐ de mìng yùn。tā měi tiān jiān chí dú shū, jí shì shì hán lěng de dōng yè, yě yī rán fú'àn kǔ dú。zhōng yú, huáng tiān bù fù yǒu xīn rén, tā kǎo zhòng le zhuàng yuán, cóng cǐ guò shang le fù yù de shēng huó。dàn tā bìng méi yǒu wàng jì guò qù qīng tāng guǎ shuǐ de rì zi, réng rán bǎo chí zhe qín jiǎn jié yuē de hǎo xí guàn。

Once upon a time, there was a poor scholar who was preparing for the imperial examination. Every day, he ate simple, bland meals. He lived in a modest little house, without luxurious decorations or delicious food. But he didn't feel depressed, because he was passionate about studying, believing that as long as he persevered, he would succeed in the examination and change his simple life. He studied every day, even on cold winter nights, he still studied diligently. Finally, his hard work paid off, he passed the examination and became the top scholar, and from then on he lived a wealthy life. But he didn't forget his past days of simple life, and he still maintained his thrifty habits.

Usage

多用于形容食物或生活单调乏味，缺乏情趣。

duō yòng yú xíngróng shíwù huò shēnghuó dāndiào fáwèi, quēfá qíngqù。

Mostly used to describe food or life as monotonous and boring, lacking interest.

Examples

• 这顿饭真是清汤寡水，一点味道都没有。

  zhè dùn fàn zhēn de qīng tāng guǎ shuǐ, yī diǎn wèi dào dōu méi yǒu。

  This meal is really bland, no flavor at all.

• 他的生活过得清汤寡水，没有什么乐趣。

  tā de shēng huó guò de qīng tāng guǎ shuǐ, méi yǒu shén me lè qù。

  His life is simple and uninteresting, without much fun.

Related Idioms

• 粗茶淡饭

• 简朴

Opposite Idioms

• 山珍海味

• 丰盛