Strike the bell with a brush

Strike the bell with a brush

It's a Chinese idiom. The Pinyin is y ǐ t í ngzhu à ngzhi ō ng. The bell is struck with a straw without any sound. It is a metaphor for a person with shallow talent and knowledge to ask a question to a wise scholar, but there is no answer. It comes from the biography of Dongfang Shuo in the history of Han Dynasty.

Idioms and allusions

origin

In the biography of Dongfang Shuo (Volume 65 of the book of Han), "in today's life, a scholar has no disciples, but he lives alone. He looks at Xu you from the top, observes and receives public opinions from the bottom, shares his loyalty with Fan Li, and is loyal to Zixu. The world is peaceful, and he supports righteousness. He has few friends and disciples, so he is suitable. Why do he doubt me? Ruo Fuyan's use of Yue Yi, Qin's Ren Lisi, Li Shiqi's lower Qi, said that the line is like flow, Qu Cong is like a ring, if you want, the achievement is like a hill, the sea is determined, and the country is safe. It's the right time to meet it. Why is the son so evil? The saying goes, "look at the sky from a tube, measure the sea from a Li, and strike the bell from a bell." how can we understand its coherence, study its literature and make its sound! You are the one to watch, for example, a shrew attacking a dog, a lone dolphin attacking a tiger, and a cat sweeping the ear. What is the merit? Today, I am a fool rather than a scholar. Although I want to be free from difficulties, I have no choice but to do so. This is enough to show that I don't know how to change my mind and end up on the road. "

translation

"Hermits in today's world are lonely and have no friends. They live alone. They observe hermit Xu you on the top, observe hermits in the spring and Autumn Period on the bottom, connect with Fan Li and be loyal to Zixu. When the world is in peace and nothing happens, we have to guide ourselves with righteousness and show nothing. It's natural to have few friends. What doubts do you have about my personal character? As for the appointment of Yue Yi by Yan state, Li Si and Li Shiqi by Qin State persuaded Tian Guang, king of Qi, to return to the Han Dynasty without fighting. Their lobbying was as smooth as running water, persuading others to give up their own opinions and listen to lobbyists. They could get what they thought freely like a ring. Their achievements were as high as mountains, peace in the sea and peace in the country What do you find strange! As the saying goes, "look at the sky with a bamboo tube, measure the sea with a ladle, and strike the bell with a straw pole. How can you know the stars, study the sea and make a sound? From this point of view, for example, if a hamster attacks a dog or a pig bites a tiger, it will only be eaten. What's the use of that? Now it's impossible for a fool like you to blame me. If you want to avoid embarrassment, it's just enough to explain why those who don't know how to act according to circumstances don't understand the truth after all. "

Analysis of Idioms

Synonym: to knock a bell with a bell

The origin of Idioms

In the biography of Dongfang Shuo in the history of Han Dynasty, it is said: "how can you see the sky, measure the sea, and strike the bell with a bell? How can you understand its order, study its literary theory, and pronounce its sound?"

Idiom usage

As a predicate or attributive; used of people