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Learn Chinese IdiomsShowing Off One's Proficiency with the Axe
Before Lu Ban the Master Carpenter
This idiom excoriates those who show off their slight accomplishments
in front of experts.
gǔ
古dài 代yǒu 有yī 一gě 个jiàn 建zhú 筑hé 和diāo 雕kè 刻jì 技shù 术fēi 非cháng 常gāo 高chāo 超de 的rén 人 ，míng 名jiào 叫lǔ 鲁bān 班 ，mù 木jiàng 匠háng 行lǐ 里zūn 尊chèn 称tā 他wéi 为zǔ 祖shī 师 。chuán 传shuì 说tā 他céng 曾yòng 用mù 木tóu 头zhì 制zuō 作le 了yī 一zhī 只wǔ 五cǎi 彩bān 斑lán 斓de 的fèng 凤huáng 凰 ，néng 能gòu 够zài 在kōng 空zhōng 中fēi 飞xiáng 翔sān 三tiān 天bú 不diào 掉xià 下lái 来 。zài 在lǔ 鲁bān 班mén 门qián 前bǎi 摆lòng 弄fǔ 斧zǐ 子 ，dāng 当rán 然xiǎn 显dé 得yǒu 有xiē 些zì 自bú 不liáng 量lì 力le 了 。
“bān 班mén 门lòng 弄fǔ 斧 ”zhè 这gě 个chéng 成yǔ 语 ，yòng 用lái 来bǐ 比yù 喻zài 在háng 行jiā 家miàn 面qián 前xiǎn 显shì 示běn 本lǐng 领 。 |
in
ancient times, Lu
Ban was supposed to be a consummate master in construction and sculpture.
Carpenters respect him as ancestor master. It is said that he once carved
a colorful wooden phoenix that was so lifelike that it actually flew in the
sky for three days. Thus it was considered the height of folly to show off
one's skill with an axe in front of Lu Ban.