"杯水車薪" meaning in Chinese

See 杯水車薪 in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Phrase

IPA: /peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/ [Mandarin, Sinological-IPA], /peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/ [Mandarin, Sinological-IPA], /puːi̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/ [Cantonese, Sinological-IPA], /puːi̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/ [Cantonese, Sinological-IPA], /pue⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/ [Hokkien, Xiamen], /pue³³ t͡sui⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sʰia³³ sin³³/ [Hokkien, Quanzhou], /pue⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/ [Hokkien, Zhangzhou], /pue⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/ [Hokkien, Taipei], /pue⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/ [Hokkien, Kaohsiung], /peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/, /peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/, /puːi̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/, /puːi̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/, /pue⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/, /pue³³ t͡sui⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sʰia³³ sin³³/, /pue⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/, /pue⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/, /pue⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/ Chinese transliterations: bēishuǐchēxīn [Mandarin, Pinyin], bēishuǐjūxīn [Mandarin, Pinyin], ㄅㄟ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄔㄜ ㄒㄧㄣ [Mandarin, bopomofo], ㄅㄟ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄐㄩ ㄒㄧㄣ [Mandarin, bopomofo], bui¹ seoi² geoi¹ san¹ [Cantonese, Jyutping], bui¹ seoi² ce¹ san¹ [Cantonese, Jyutping], poe-chúi-chhia-sin, bēishuǐchēxīn [Hanyu-Pinyin, Mandarin], beishuěichesin [Mandarin, Tongyong-Pinyin], pei¹-shui³-chʻê¹-hsin¹ [Mandarin, Wade-Giles], bēi-shwěi-chē-syīn [Mandarin, Yale], beishoeicheshin [Gwoyeu-Romatsyh, Mandarin], бэйшуйчэсинь [Mandarin, Palladius], bɛjšujčɛsinʹ [Mandarin, Palladius], bēishuǐjūxīn [Hanyu-Pinyin, Mandarin], beishuěijyusin [Mandarin, Tongyong-Pinyin], pei¹-shui³-chü¹-hsin¹ [Mandarin, Wade-Giles], bēi-shwěi-jyū-syīn [Mandarin, Yale], beishoeijiushin [Gwoyeu-Romatsyh, Mandarin], бэйшуйцзюйсинь [Mandarin, Palladius], bɛjšujczjujsinʹ [Mandarin, Palladius], būi séui gēui sān [Cantonese, Yale], būi séui chē sān [Cantonese, Yale], bui¹ soey² goey¹ san¹ [Cantonese, Pinyin], bui¹ soey² tse¹ san¹ [Cantonese, Pinyin], bui¹ sêu² gêu¹ sen¹ [Cantonese, Guangdong-Romanization], bui¹ sêu² cé¹ sen¹ [Cantonese, Guangdong-Romanization], poe-chúi-chhia-sin [Hokkien, POJ], pue-tsuí-tshia-sin [Hokkien, Tai-lo], poezuychiasyn [Hokkien, Phofsit-Daibuun]
Etymology: From Mencius (《孟子·告子上》): : 孟子曰:「仁之勝不仁也,猶水勝火。今之為仁者,猶以一杯水,救一車薪之火也;不熄,則謂之水不勝火,此又與於不仁之甚者也。亦終必亡而已矣。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]孟子曰:「仁之胜不仁也,犹水胜火。今之为仁者,犹以一杯水,救一车薪之火也;不熄,则谓之水不胜火,此又与于不仁之甚者也。亦终必亡而已矣。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.] From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version Mèngzǐ yuē: “Rén zhī shèng bùrén yě, yóu shuǐ shèng huǒ. Jīn zhī wéi rén zhě, yóu yǐ yī bēi shuǐ, jiù yī chē xīn zhī huǒ yě; bù xī, zé wèi zhī shuǐ bù shèng huǒ, cǐ yòu yǔ yú bùrén zhī shèn zhě yě. Yì zhōng bì wáng éryǐ yǐ.” [Pinyin] Mencius said, "Benevolence subdues its opposite just as water subdues fire. Those, however, who now-a-days practice benevolence do it as if with one cup of water they could save a whole wagon-load of fuel which was on fire, and when the flames were not extinguished, were to say that water cannot subdue fire. This conduct, moreover, greatly encourages those who are not benevolent. The final issue will simply be this: the loss of that small amount of benevolence." Etymology templates: {{lang|zh|(《孟子·告子上》)}} (《孟子·告子上》), {{zh-x|孟子 曰:「仁 之 勝 不仁 也,猶 水 勝 火。今 之 為{wéi} 仁 者,猶 以 一 @杯 @水,救 一 @車 @薪 之 火 也;不 熄,則 謂 之 水 不 勝 火,此 又 與 於 不仁 之 甚 者 也。亦 終 必 亡 而已 矣。」|Mencius said, "Benevolence subdues its opposite just as water subdues fire. Those, however, who now-a-days practice benevolence do it as if with one cup of water they could save a whole wagon-load of fuel which was on fire, and when the flames were not extinguished, were to say that water cannot subdue fire. This conduct, moreover, greatly encourages those who are not benevolent. The final issue will simply be this: the loss of that small amount of benevolence."|collapsed=y|ref=Mencius-L}} 孟子曰:「仁之勝不仁也,猶水勝火。今之為仁者,猶以一杯水,救一車薪之火也;不熄,則謂之水不勝火,此又與於不仁之甚者也。亦終必亡而已矣。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]孟子曰:「仁之胜不仁也,犹水胜火。今之为仁者,犹以一杯水,救一车薪之火也;不熄,则谓之水不胜火,此又与于不仁之甚者也。亦终必亡而已矣。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.] From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version Mèngzǐ yuē: “Rén zhī shèng bùrén yě, yóu shuǐ shèng huǒ. Jīn zhī wéi rén zhě, yóu yǐ yī bēi shuǐ, jiù yī chē xīn zhī huǒ yě; bù xī, zé wèi zhī shuǐ bù shèng huǒ, cǐ yòu yǔ yú bùrén zhī shèn zhě yě. Yì zhōng bì wáng éryǐ yǐ.” [Pinyin] Mencius said, "Benevolence subdues its opposite just as water subdues fire. Those, however, who now-a-days practice benevolence do it as if with one cup of water they could save a whole wagon-load of fuel which was on fire, and when the flames were not extinguished, were to say that water cannot subdue fire. This conduct, moreover, greatly encourages those who are not benevolent. The final issue will simply be this: the loss of that small amount of benevolence." Head templates: {{head|zh|idiom}} 杯水車薪
  1. too inadequate and useless; to no avail Wikipedia link: Mencius (book) Tags: idiomatic

Download JSON data for 杯水車薪 meaning in Chinese (8.5kB)

{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "zh",
        "2": "(《孟子·告子上》)"
      },
      "expansion": "(《孟子·告子上》)",
      "name": "lang"
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    {
      "args": {
        "1": "孟子 曰:「仁 之 勝 不仁 也,猶 水 勝 火。今 之 為{wéi} 仁 者,猶 以 一 @杯 @水,救 一 @車 @薪 之 火 也;不 熄,則 謂 之 水 不 勝 火,此 又 與 於 不仁 之 甚 者 也。亦 終 必 亡 而已 矣。」",
        "2": "Mencius said, \"Benevolence subdues its opposite just as water subdues fire. Those, however, who now-a-days practice benevolence do it as if with one cup of water they could save a whole wagon-load of fuel which was on fire, and when the flames were not extinguished, were to say that water cannot subdue fire. This conduct, moreover, greatly encourages those who are not benevolent. The final issue will simply be this: the loss of that small amount of benevolence.\"",
        "collapsed": "y",
        "ref": "Mencius-L"
      },
      "expansion": "孟子曰:「仁之勝不仁也,猶水勝火。今之為仁者,猶以一杯水,救一車薪之火也;不熄,則謂之水不勝火,此又與於不仁之甚者也。亦終必亡而已矣。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]孟子曰:「仁之胜不仁也,犹水胜火。今之为仁者,犹以一杯水,救一车薪之火也;不熄,则谓之水不胜火,此又与于不仁之甚者也。亦终必亡而已矣。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]\nFrom: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version\nMèngzǐ yuē: “Rén zhī shèng bùrén yě, yóu shuǐ shèng huǒ. Jīn zhī wéi rén zhě, yóu yǐ yī bēi shuǐ, jiù yī chē xīn zhī huǒ yě; bù xī, zé wèi zhī shuǐ bù shèng huǒ, cǐ yòu yǔ yú bùrén zhī shèn zhě yě. Yì zhōng bì wáng éryǐ yǐ.” [Pinyin]\nMencius said, \"Benevolence subdues its opposite just as water subdues fire. Those, however, who now-a-days practice benevolence do it as if with one cup of water they could save a whole wagon-load of fuel which was on fire, and when the flames were not extinguished, were to say that water cannot subdue fire. This conduct, moreover, greatly encourages those who are not benevolent. The final issue will simply be this: the loss of that small amount of benevolence.\"",
      "name": "zh-x"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Mencius (《孟子·告子上》):\n:\n孟子曰:「仁之勝不仁也,猶水勝火。今之為仁者,猶以一杯水,救一車薪之火也;不熄,則謂之水不勝火,此又與於不仁之甚者也。亦終必亡而已矣。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]孟子曰:「仁之胜不仁也,犹水胜火。今之为仁者,犹以一杯水,救一车薪之火也;不熄,则谓之水不胜火,此又与于不仁之甚者也。亦终必亡而已矣。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]\nFrom: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version\nMèngzǐ yuē: “Rén zhī shèng bùrén yě, yóu shuǐ shèng huǒ. Jīn zhī wéi rén zhě, yóu yǐ yī bēi shuǐ, jiù yī chē xīn zhī huǒ yě; bù xī, zé wèi zhī shuǐ bù shèng huǒ, cǐ yòu yǔ yú bùrén zhī shèn zhě yě. Yì zhōng bì wáng éryǐ yǐ.” [Pinyin]\nMencius said, \"Benevolence subdues its opposite just as water subdues fire. Those, however, who now-a-days practice benevolence do it as if with one cup of water they could save a whole wagon-load of fuel which was on fire, and when the flames were not extinguished, were to say that water cannot subdue fire. This conduct, moreover, greatly encourages those who are not benevolent. The final issue will simply be this: the loss of that small amount of benevolence.\"",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "zh",
        "2": "idiom"
      },
      "expansion": "杯水車薪",
      "name": "head"
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  ],
  "lang": "Chinese",
  "lang_code": "zh",
  "pos": "phrase",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Chinese entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Chinese entries with language name categories using raw markup",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with language name categories using raw markup",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Chinese terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
          "parents": [
            "Terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Mandarin terms with multiple pronunciations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "too inadequate and useless; to no avail"
      ],
      "id": "en-杯水車薪-zh-phrase-ch6NqDhq",
      "links": [
        [
          "inadequate",
          "inadequate"
        ],
        [
          "useless",
          "useless"
        ],
        [
          "to no avail",
          "to no avail"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic"
      ],
      "wikipedia": [
        "Mencius (book)"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bēishuǐchēxīn"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bēishuǐjūxīn"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "bopomofo"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "ㄅㄟ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄔㄜ ㄒㄧㄣ"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "bopomofo"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "ㄅㄟ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄐㄩ ㄒㄧㄣ"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Jyutping"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bui¹ seoi² geoi¹ san¹"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Jyutping"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bui¹ seoi² ce¹ san¹"
    },
    {
      "zh-pron": "poe-chúi-chhia-sin"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Hanyu-Pinyin",
        "Mandarin"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bēishuǐchēxīn"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Tongyong-Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "beishuěichesin"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Wade-Giles"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "pei¹-shui³-chʻê¹-hsin¹"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Yale"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bēi-shwěi-chē-syīn"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Gwoyeu-Romatsyh",
        "Mandarin"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "beishoeicheshin"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Palladius"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "бэйшуйчэсинь"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Palladius"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bɛjšujčɛsinʹ"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/",
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Sinological-IPA"
      ]
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Hanyu-Pinyin",
        "Mandarin"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bēishuǐjūxīn"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Tongyong-Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "beishuěijyusin"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Wade-Giles"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "pei¹-shui³-chü¹-hsin¹"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Yale"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bēi-shwěi-jyū-syīn"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Gwoyeu-Romatsyh",
        "Mandarin"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "beishoeijiushin"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Palladius"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "бэйшуйцзюйсинь"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Palladius"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bɛjšujczjujsinʹ"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/",
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Sinological-IPA"
      ]
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Yale"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "būi séui gēui sān"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Yale"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "būi séui chē sān"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bui¹ soey² goey¹ san¹"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bui¹ soey² tse¹ san¹"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangdong-Romanization"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bui¹ sêu² gêu¹ sen¹"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangdong-Romanization"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bui¹ sêu² cé¹ sen¹"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/puːi̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/",
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Sinological-IPA"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/puːi̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/",
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Sinological-IPA"
      ]
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Hokkien",
        "POJ"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "poe-chúi-chhia-sin"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Hokkien",
        "Tai-lo"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "pue-tsuí-tshia-sin"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Hokkien",
        "Phofsit-Daibuun"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "poezuychiasyn"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/pue⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/",
      "tags": [
        "Hokkien",
        "Xiamen"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/pue³³ t͡sui⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sʰia³³ sin³³/",
      "tags": [
        "Hokkien",
        "Quanzhou"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/pue⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/",
      "tags": [
        "Hokkien",
        "Zhangzhou"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/pue⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/",
      "tags": [
        "Hokkien",
        "Taipei"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/pue⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/",
      "tags": [
        "Hokkien",
        "Kaohsiung"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/puːi̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/puːi̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/pue⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/pue³³ t͡sui⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sʰia³³ sin³³/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/pue⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/pue⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/pue⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "杯水車薪"
}
{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "zh",
        "2": "(《孟子·告子上》)"
      },
      "expansion": "(《孟子·告子上》)",
      "name": "lang"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "孟子 曰:「仁 之 勝 不仁 也,猶 水 勝 火。今 之 為{wéi} 仁 者,猶 以 一 @杯 @水,救 一 @車 @薪 之 火 也;不 熄,則 謂 之 水 不 勝 火,此 又 與 於 不仁 之 甚 者 也。亦 終 必 亡 而已 矣。」",
        "2": "Mencius said, \"Benevolence subdues its opposite just as water subdues fire. Those, however, who now-a-days practice benevolence do it as if with one cup of water they could save a whole wagon-load of fuel which was on fire, and when the flames were not extinguished, were to say that water cannot subdue fire. This conduct, moreover, greatly encourages those who are not benevolent. The final issue will simply be this: the loss of that small amount of benevolence.\"",
        "collapsed": "y",
        "ref": "Mencius-L"
      },
      "expansion": "孟子曰:「仁之勝不仁也,猶水勝火。今之為仁者,猶以一杯水,救一車薪之火也;不熄,則謂之水不勝火,此又與於不仁之甚者也。亦終必亡而已矣。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]孟子曰:「仁之胜不仁也,犹水胜火。今之为仁者,犹以一杯水,救一车薪之火也;不熄,则谓之水不胜火,此又与于不仁之甚者也。亦终必亡而已矣。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]\nFrom: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version\nMèngzǐ yuē: “Rén zhī shèng bùrén yě, yóu shuǐ shèng huǒ. Jīn zhī wéi rén zhě, yóu yǐ yī bēi shuǐ, jiù yī chē xīn zhī huǒ yě; bù xī, zé wèi zhī shuǐ bù shèng huǒ, cǐ yòu yǔ yú bùrén zhī shèn zhě yě. Yì zhōng bì wáng éryǐ yǐ.” [Pinyin]\nMencius said, \"Benevolence subdues its opposite just as water subdues fire. Those, however, who now-a-days practice benevolence do it as if with one cup of water they could save a whole wagon-load of fuel which was on fire, and when the flames were not extinguished, were to say that water cannot subdue fire. This conduct, moreover, greatly encourages those who are not benevolent. The final issue will simply be this: the loss of that small amount of benevolence.\"",
      "name": "zh-x"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Mencius (《孟子·告子上》):\n:\n孟子曰:「仁之勝不仁也,猶水勝火。今之為仁者,猶以一杯水,救一車薪之火也;不熄,則謂之水不勝火,此又與於不仁之甚者也。亦終必亡而已矣。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]孟子曰:「仁之胜不仁也,犹水胜火。今之为仁者,犹以一杯水,救一车薪之火也;不熄,则谓之水不胜火,此又与于不仁之甚者也。亦终必亡而已矣。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]\nFrom: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version\nMèngzǐ yuē: “Rén zhī shèng bùrén yě, yóu shuǐ shèng huǒ. Jīn zhī wéi rén zhě, yóu yǐ yī bēi shuǐ, jiù yī chē xīn zhī huǒ yě; bù xī, zé wèi zhī shuǐ bù shèng huǒ, cǐ yòu yǔ yú bùrén zhī shèn zhě yě. Yì zhōng bì wáng éryǐ yǐ.” [Pinyin]\nMencius said, \"Benevolence subdues its opposite just as water subdues fire. Those, however, who now-a-days practice benevolence do it as if with one cup of water they could save a whole wagon-load of fuel which was on fire, and when the flames were not extinguished, were to say that water cannot subdue fire. This conduct, moreover, greatly encourages those who are not benevolent. The final issue will simply be this: the loss of that small amount of benevolence.\"",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "zh",
        "2": "idiom"
      },
      "expansion": "杯水車薪",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Chinese",
  "lang_code": "zh",
  "pos": "phrase",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "Cantonese idioms",
        "Cantonese lemmas",
        "Chinese entries with incorrect language header",
        "Chinese entries with language name categories using raw markup",
        "Chinese four-character idioms derived from Mencius",
        "Chinese idioms",
        "Chinese lemmas",
        "Chinese terms with IPA pronunciation",
        "Chinese terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
        "Hokkien idioms",
        "Hokkien lemmas",
        "Mandarin idioms",
        "Mandarin lemmas",
        "Mandarin terms with multiple pronunciations"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "too inadequate and useless; to no avail"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "inadequate",
          "inadequate"
        ],
        [
          "useless",
          "useless"
        ],
        [
          "to no avail",
          "to no avail"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic"
      ],
      "wikipedia": [
        "Mencius (book)"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bēishuǐchēxīn"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bēishuǐjūxīn"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "bopomofo"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "ㄅㄟ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄔㄜ ㄒㄧㄣ"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "bopomofo"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "ㄅㄟ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄐㄩ ㄒㄧㄣ"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Jyutping"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bui¹ seoi² geoi¹ san¹"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Jyutping"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bui¹ seoi² ce¹ san¹"
    },
    {
      "zh-pron": "poe-chúi-chhia-sin"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Hanyu-Pinyin",
        "Mandarin"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bēishuǐchēxīn"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Tongyong-Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "beishuěichesin"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Wade-Giles"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "pei¹-shui³-chʻê¹-hsin¹"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Yale"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bēi-shwěi-chē-syīn"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Gwoyeu-Romatsyh",
        "Mandarin"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "beishoeicheshin"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Palladius"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "бэйшуйчэсинь"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Palladius"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bɛjšujčɛsinʹ"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/",
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Sinological-IPA"
      ]
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Hanyu-Pinyin",
        "Mandarin"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bēishuǐjūxīn"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Tongyong-Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "beishuěijyusin"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Wade-Giles"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "pei¹-shui³-chü¹-hsin¹"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Yale"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bēi-shwěi-jyū-syīn"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Gwoyeu-Romatsyh",
        "Mandarin"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "beishoeijiushin"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Palladius"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "бэйшуйцзюйсинь"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Palladius"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bɛjšujczjujsinʹ"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/",
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Sinological-IPA"
      ]
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Yale"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "būi séui gēui sān"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Yale"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "būi séui chē sān"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bui¹ soey² goey¹ san¹"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bui¹ soey² tse¹ san¹"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangdong-Romanization"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bui¹ sêu² gêu¹ sen¹"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangdong-Romanization"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "bui¹ sêu² cé¹ sen¹"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/puːi̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/",
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Sinological-IPA"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/puːi̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/",
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Sinological-IPA"
      ]
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Hokkien",
        "POJ"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "poe-chúi-chhia-sin"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Hokkien",
        "Tai-lo"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "pue-tsuí-tshia-sin"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Hokkien",
        "Phofsit-Daibuun"
      ],
      "zh-pron": "poezuychiasyn"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/pue⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/",
      "tags": [
        "Hokkien",
        "Xiamen"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/pue³³ t͡sui⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sʰia³³ sin³³/",
      "tags": [
        "Hokkien",
        "Quanzhou"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/pue⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/",
      "tags": [
        "Hokkien",
        "Zhangzhou"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/pue⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/",
      "tags": [
        "Hokkien",
        "Taipei"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/pue⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/",
      "tags": [
        "Hokkien",
        "Kaohsiung"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/puːi̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/puːi̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/pue⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/pue³³ t͡sui⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sʰia³³ sin³³/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/pue⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/pue⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/pue⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "杯水車薪"
}
{
  "called_from": "pronunciations/296/20230324",
  "msg": "Zh-pron header not found in zh_pron_tags or tags: 'Southern Min'",
  "path": [
    "杯水車薪"
  ],
  "section": "Chinese",
  "subsection": "",
  "title": "杯水車薪",
  "trace": ""
}

{
  "called_from": "pronunciations/296/20230324",
  "msg": "Zh-pron header not found in zh_pron_tags or tags: 'Southern Min (Hokkien, POJ)'",
  "path": [
    "杯水車薪"
  ],
  "section": "Chinese",
  "subsection": "",
  "title": "杯水車薪",
  "trace": ""
}

{
  "called_from": "pronunciations/296/20230324",
  "msg": "Zh-pron header not found in zh_pron_tags or tags: '(Standard Chinese, standard in Mainland and Taiwan)⁺'",
  "path": [
    "杯水車薪"
  ],
  "section": "Chinese",
  "subsection": "",
  "title": "杯水車薪",
  "trace": ""
}

{
  "called_from": "pronunciations/296/20230324",
  "msg": "Zh-pron header not found in zh_pron_tags or tags: '(Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺'",
  "path": [
    "杯水車薪"
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  "section": "Chinese",
  "subsection": "",
  "title": "杯水車薪",
  "trace": ""
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{
  "called_from": "pronunciations/296/20230324",
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  "path": [
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  "section": "Chinese",
  "subsection": "",
  "title": "杯水車薪",
  "trace": ""
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable Chinese dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-05-09 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-05-02 using wiktextract (4d5d0bb and edd475d). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.