胸无点墨 xiōng wú diǎn mò without a drop of ink

Explanation

形容人没有文化,缺乏学识。

Describes a person who is uneducated and lacks knowledge.

Origin Story

话说古代有一个秀才,名叫王书童,自诩才高八斗,满腹经纶。一日,他路过一个村庄,见一农夫正在田间劳作,便上前搭讪。王书童指着田里的庄稼问:‘老伯,这麦子长得如此茂盛,不知有何秘诀?’农夫憨厚地笑了笑,说道:‘没啥秘诀,就是一年四季辛勤耕作罢了。’王书童听罢,轻蔑一笑,说道:‘老伯真是胸无点墨,这岂是勤劳就能解决的问题?你看,我胸有成竹,只需动动笔杆子,便能写出一篇关于农业种植的论文,保证比你种出的麦子还高产!’农夫听罢,也不争辩,只是默默地继续劳作。后来,王书童的论文果然写了出来,可却无人问津,更别说实现高产了。他这才明白,书本上的知识固然重要,但实践经验同样不可或缺。

huà shuō gǔdài yǒu yīgè xiùcái, míng jiào wáng shūtóng, zìxǔ cáigāo bādǒu, mǎnfù jīnglún。yīrì, tā lùguò yīgè cūnzhuāng, jiàn yī nóngfū zhèng zài tiánjiān láozùo, biàn shàng qián dāshàn。wáng shūtóng zhǐzhe tián lǐ de zhuāngjia wèn:‘lǎobó, zhè mài zi zhǎng de rú cǐ màoshèng, bù zhī yǒu hé mìjué?’nóngfū hānhòu de xiàole yīxiào, shuōdào:‘méi shá mìjué, jiùshì yī nián sìjì xīnqín gēngzuò bàle。’wáng shūtóng tīng bà, qīngmiè yīxiào, shuōdào:‘lǎobó zhēnshi xiōng wú diǎn mò, zhè qǐ shì qínláo jiù néng jiějué de wèntí?nǐ kàn, wǒ xiōng yǒu chéngzhú, zhǐ xū dòng dòng bǐgǎnzi, biàn néng xiě chū yī piān guānyú nóngyè zhòngzhí de lùnwén, bǎozhèng bǐ nǐ zhòng chū de mài zi hái gāochǎn!’nóngfū tīng bà, yě bù zhēngbiàn, zhǐshì mòmò de jìxù láozùo。hòulái, wáng shūtóng de lùnwén guǒrán xiě chū le, kě què wú rén wènjīn, gèng bié shuō shíxiàn gāochǎn le。tā cái cèi míngbái, shūběn shang de zhīshì gùrán zhòngyào, dàn shíjiàn jīngyàn tóngyàng bùkě quèquē

It is said that in ancient times, there was a scholar named Wang Shutong, who considered himself highly intelligent and erudite. One day, passing through a village, he saw a farmer working in the fields and struck up a conversation. Pointing to the crops, Wang Shutong asked, “Old man, why does this wheat grow so well? What's your secret?” The farmer smiled bashfully and said, “There's no secret; I just work hard year-round.” Wang Shutong scoffed, “Old man, you're so ignorant! Is that something solved by hard work? You see, I have a plan and can write a treatise on agriculture with a few strokes of my pen that would guarantee a higher yield than your wheat!” The farmer listened but didn't argue and simply continued to work. Later, Wang Shutong's treatise was completed, but no one paid attention to it, let alone achieving a higher yield. He then realized that theoretical knowledge is undoubtedly important but practical experience is just as essential.

Usage

用于形容人缺乏文化知识。

yòng yú xiānróng rén quēfá wénhuà zhīshì

Used to describe a person who lacks cultural knowledge.

Examples

  • 他虽然说得头头是道,实际上却是个胸无点墨的人。

    tā suīrán shuō de tótōushìdào, shíjì shang què shì ge xiōng wú diǎn mò de rén。

    Although he speaks eloquently, he is actually an uneducated person.

  • 不要看他衣冠楚楚,其实胸无点墨。

    búyào kàn tā yīguān chǔchǔ, qíshí xiōng wú diǎn mò

    Don't look at his well-dressed appearance, in fact, he is uneducated and ignorant