雕虫末技 Diāo chóng mò jì trivial skill

Explanation

比喻微不足道的技能。

A metaphor for insignificant skills.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，有一位才华横溢的书生名叫李白，他精通诗词歌赋，尤其擅长书法，其笔法飘逸洒脱，令人叹为观止。然而，李白志向远大，并不满足于仅仅成为一位书法大家。他渴望建功立业，为国家效力。一天，李白在长安街头偶遇一位饱经沧桑的老者，老者见李白文采斐然，便向他请教治国之道。李白侃侃而谈，从民生疾苦到国家战略，一一分析，展现出他深厚的政治才华。老者听后深受启发，连连称赞李白的才识过人。李白谦虚地笑了笑，说道：“我这书法不过雕虫末技，不足挂齿，治国安邦才是我的志向所在。”老者听后更是肃然起敬，感叹李白胸怀坦荡，志存高远。从此，李白更加勤奋努力，最终成为了一代诗仙，名垂青史。

huà shuō táng cháo shíqī, yǒu yī wèi cái huá héng yì de shūshēng míng jiào lǐ bái, tā jīngtōng shī cí gē fù, yóuqí shàn cháng shūfǎ, qí bǐ fǎ piāo yì sǎ tuō, lìng rén tàn wèi guān zhǐ. rán'ér, lǐ bái zhìxiàng yuǎndà, bìng bù mǎnzú yú jǐn jǐn chéngwéi yī wèi shūfǎ dàjiā. tā kěwàng jiàn gōng lìyè, wèi guójiā xiàolì. yī tiān, lǐ bái zài cháng'ān jiētóu ǒuyù yī wèi bǎo jīng cāngsāng de lǎozhe, lǎozhe jiàn lǐ bái wéncǎi fěirán, biàn xiàng tā qǐngjiào zhì guó zhī dào. lǐ bái kǎnkǎn ér tán, cóng mín shēng jí kǔ dào guójiā zhànlüè, yī yī fēnxī, zhǎnxian chū tā shēn hòu de zhèngzhì cái huá. lǎozhe tīng hòu shēn shòu qǐfā, lián lián chēngzàn lǐ bái de cáishí guò rén. lǐ bái qiānxū de xiàole yī xiào, shuō dào:“zhè wǒ shūfǎ bù guò diāo chóng mò jì, bù zú guà chǐ, zhì guó ānbāng cái shì wǒ de zhìxiàng suǒ zài.” lǎozhe tīng hòu gèng shì sùrán qǐ jìng, gǎntàn lǐ bái xiōng huái tǎndàng, zhì cún gāo yuǎn. cóng cǐ, lǐ bái gèngjiā qínfèn nǔlì, zuìzhōng chéngwéi le yīdài shī xiān, míng chuí qīng shǐ.

In the Tang Dynasty, there was a talented scholar named Li Bai who was skilled in poetry, song and calligraphy. His calligraphy was elegant and unrestrained. However, Li Bai was ambitious and did not confine himself to being a calligrapher. He aspired to achieve success and serve the country. One day, Li Bai met an old man on the street of Chang'an. The old man, seeing Li Bai's talent, asked him for advice on governance. Li Bai gave a clear speech about the people's suffering and national strategies, demonstrating his profound political talent. The old man was inspired and praised Li Bai's outstanding wisdom. Li Bai modestly smiled and said, "My calligraphy is just a trivial skill, governing the country is my true aspiration." The old man was moved by Li Bai's noble aspiration.

Usage

通常用作主语、宾语、定语；形容微不足道的技能。

tōng cháng yòng zuò zhǔyǔ, bìnyǔ, dìngyǔ; xiángróng wēi bù zú dào de jì néng

Usually used as subject, object and attributive; to describe insignificant skills.

Examples

• 他的书法造诣很高，但这只是雕虫末技，不足以成为一代宗师。

  tā de shūfǎ zàoyì hěn gāo, dàn zhè zhǐshì diāo chóng mò jì, bù zú yǐ chéngwéi yīdài zōngshī

  His calligraphy is very good, but this is only a trivial skill, not enough to become a master of a generation.

• 写诗作赋对他来说只是雕虫末技，他的真正志向在于治国安邦。

  xiě shī zuò fù duì tā lái shuō zhǐshì diāo chóng mò jì, tā de zhēnzhèng zhìxiàng zàiyú zhì guó ānbāng

  Writing poems and essays is only a minor skill for him, his true ambition is to govern the country and secure peace.

Related Idioms

• 雕虫小技

• 雕虫小巧

• 雕虫末伎

Opposite Idioms

• 绝世武功

• 旷世奇才