draw water from a deep well with a short rope

draw water from a deep well with a short rope

To draw water from a well. The rope of the bucket is too short to draw water from the deep well. The ability of metaphor is weak, so it is difficult to undertake the arduous task. It is the sixth volume of Zhuangzi Jishi (waipian Zhiyue).

Idiom information

Pipe: a rope used to draw water; pipe: a rope used to draw water from a well. The rope of the bucket is too short to draw water from the deep well. The ability of metaphor is weak, so it is difficult to undertake the arduous task. [usage] as object and attribute; the ability of metaphor is difficult to undertake the arduous task. In ancient times, draw water from a deep well with a short road, learn from the past, cherish the past, pick up gold from the sand, bow your head to the bottom of your heart, suppress the secret eight tones, and become an old woman in the army

The origin of Idioms

origin

In the honor and disgrace of Xunzi written by Zhao Xun Kuang in the Warring States period, it is said that a short pipe can't draw deep wells, and those who know little can't talk with sages. In the sixth volume of Zhuangzi Ji Shi, waipian Zhile, Confucius was worried. Zi Gong went down to the banquet and asked, "boy, I dare to ask. When I returned to Qi in the East, my master was worried. What's the evil?" Confucius said, "good, you ask! In the past, Guanzi had a saying, and Qiu was very good at it. He said, "Chu who is small can't conceive big, and he who is short can't draw deep." If a man is a man, he thinks that his life will be successful and his form will be suitable. He can't make profit or loss. I'm afraid I'll go back to the Marquis of Qi to talk about the way of Emperor Yao, Shun and Huang, but I'll pay more attention to the words of Shennong. He will ask for his own inner self but not, he will be confused if he can't, and he will die if he is confused. In Tang Dynasty, Cheng Xuanying said, "pipe, Jisuo.". If you allow small things, you can't hide big things; if you use short ropes, you can't lead deep wells. 」

translation

"Zhuangzi Ji Shi" (Volume 6) "Wai Pian Zhi Yue" (Wai Pian Zhi Yue) ". When Yan Yuan went east to the state of Qi, Confucius was very worried. Zi Gong left his seat and asked: "students venture to ask, Yan Yuan goes east to the state of Qi, sir looks worried, why is this?" Confucius said: "your question is really good! There was a saying by Guan Zhong in those days, which I thought was very good: "a small cloth bag can't hold big things. The rope on the bucket is too short to draw water from a deep well." In this way, it should be regarded as the formation of the body by the mandate of heaven. Although the body is different, it has its own suitable use, and all of them can not be added, reduced or changed at will. I am worried that Yan Yuan talked with the Marquis of Qi about the idea of Emperor Yao, Shun and Huang governing the country, and he further emphasized the remarks of suirenshi and shennongshi. The Marquis of Qi must ask himself to think hard, but he still can't understand it. If he doesn't understand it, he will have doubts. Once he has doubts, he will anger the other party and kill him.

Idiom story

During the spring and Autumn period, Yan Yuan, a disciple of Confucius, went from Lu to Qi, ready to talk with the monarch of Qi about the great principles of governing the country. Confucius was not at ease. When Zi Gong asked why, Confucius said, "I think of Guan Zi's saying," Chu who is small can't be pregnant with a big one, and he who is short can't be deep. "We need to analyze specific problems, but Yan Yuan can't do it."

Examples of Idioms

It is short and deep. Yan Ting's inscriptions on Zen master Dazhi in the Tang Dynasty and Yu Xin's speech on his highness Fenghe Yongfeng in the Northern Zhou Dynasty (7): "self pity follows the short pipe, and you want to ask changju." Chen Zao of the Song Dynasty wrote the poem "giving money to the doctor" which said: "there is no good way to do it, so we should learn from it." One of the poems "Wuyin New Year's Eve" written by Sun Hua of the Tang Dynasty in the Qing Dynasty: "the short pipe has the heart to explore the volume, and the long rope has no strategy to tie xi'e