have talent but no opportunity to use it
The Chinese idiom w é nzh ā ngz ē NGM ì ng is used to describe the situation of talented people. It comes from Du Fu's the end of the day with Li Bai.
The origin of Idioms
Du Fu's poem "the end of heaven cherishes Li Bai" in Tang Dynasty: "the article is full of detestation, and the charm is pleasant."
Idiom usage
Subject predicate; as object; with derogatory meaning. When he saw that, he was filled with indignation. He didn't blame himself for the wrong rhyme. Instead, he scolded the Chief Secretary for injustice and sighed at himself. The 54th chapter of Li Baojia's Officialdom
have talent but no opportunity to use it
Lead the tiger to resist the wolf - yǐn hǔ jù láng
a section of arrowroot is separated , but the clinging fibre remains - ǒu duàn sī lián
pointing to the round granary and presenting it as gift to a friend ( a very generous act - zhǐ què xiāng zèng
Let the river flow and let the fire flow - xuán hé xiè huǒ