管窥蠡测 Looking at the sky through a bamboo tube, measuring the sea with a ladle
Explanation
比喻对事物的观察和了解很狭窄，很片面。
It is a metaphor for a narrow and limited understanding of things.
Origin Story
西汉时期，东方朔以其独特的才能和不羁的性格闻名，他曾担任过太中大夫等官职，但由于他经常直言不讳地批评汉武帝，因此未能得到重用。在《答客难》一文中，东方朔将自己与当时的著名策士苏秦和张仪进行了比较，他认为，那些有才能的人应该避免管窥蠡测，他们需要认真思考自己的行为和操守，从而获得更大的发展。而那些仅仅以管窥蠡测的狭隘眼光看待事物的人，则难以取得真正的成功。在这个故事中，管窥蠡测象征着一种狭隘的思维模式，它限制了个人视野和发展空间，最终导致了失败。因此，故事告诉我们，只有跳出狭隘的视角，才能看到更广阔的未来。
During the Western Han Dynasty, Dongfang Shuo was known for his unique talents and unrestrained personality. He once held positions such as Tai Zhong Daifu, but because he often criticized Emperor Wu frankly, he was not promoted. In his work "Answers to Difficult Questions", Dongfang Shuo compared himself to the famous strategists Su Qin and Zhang Yi. He believed that those with talent should avoid Guan Kui Li Ce (looking at the sky through a bamboo tube), and they need to carefully consider their behavior and morals to achieve greater development.Those who only view things with a narrow perspective of Guan Kui Li Ce will find it difficult to achieve real success. In this story, Guan Kui Li Ce symbolizes a narrow mindset that limits a person's vision and growth space, ultimately leading to failure. Therefore, the story tells us that only by jumping out of a narrow perspective can we see a broader future.
Usage
多用于书面语，形容对事情认识不全面、不深刻。
Mostly used in written language to describe the incomplete and superficial understanding of something.
Examples
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他总是以管窥蠡测的眼光来看问题，很难看到事情的全貌。
ta zongshi yi guan kui li ce de yangguang lai kan wenti, hen nan kan dao shiqing de quanmao.
He always looks at problems with a narrow-minded perspective, and it's difficult to see the whole picture.
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不要管窥蠡测，要从宏观角度分析问题。
buya guan kui li ce, yao cong hongguan jiaodu fenxi wenti
Don't look at problems with limited perspectives; you should analyze problems from a macro perspective.