To be dull with decay
As a Chinese idiom, Pinyin is Nu ò Xi ǔ m ó D ù n, which means that people with low ability are also encouraging for progress. From selected works Ban Gu's Dabin opera.
The origin of Idioms
Ban Gu's "Dabin opera" in Wenxuan: "at this time, if you are dull, you can break a lead knife." Li Shanzhu quoted Wei Zhao as saying, "tetany, moye." Liu Liang's note: "decadence and dullness are people who are not talented, and tetany and grinding are self motivation. When it comes to this, those who are not talented are keen to get away with it, just as the knife of lead and tin can be cut
Idiom usage
Used as a predicate or attributive; used in writing
To be dull with decay
exchange solemn vows and pledges - hǎi yuē shān méng
swords , spears , two-edged swords and halberds -- all kinds of ancient weapons - dāo qiāng jiàn jǐ
When a mouse crosses the street, everyone shouts - lǎo shǔ guò jiē,rén rén hǎn dǎ
an important statement need not be prolix - yào yán bù fán
be very hard up , and in fact ) be at a loose end - shí guāi yùn jiǎn