Studying Chinese by learning a valuable idiom: “纸上谈兵(zhi3 shang4 tan2 bing1)”

The idiom "纸上谈兵 (zhǐshàngtánbīng) armchair strategy" refers to people who engage in idle talk, but are unable to act on their high minded theories. It is usually used to urge people to combine theories with practical knowledge and not be bookworms. It’s not basic Chinese for children, it’s a little bit difficult Chinese for teens. Now, let's read about the origin of the idiom below.

The general Zhao Kuo of Zhao Dynasty studied military strategy and tactics from childhood. But he could only talk about military strategies on paper; he never went to the battlefield. So he was not good at the art of war. When Zhao Kuo became a general, he changed all the military laws and appointed officers thoughtlessly. As a result, Zhao Kuo's army suffered a severe defeat in the famous Campaign of Changping. Zhao Kuo himself died in the war and the Zhao Dynasty was unable to recover from the defeat.

And then, for studying Chinese usefully we often read some instance:

Xuéxí bù néng zhǐshàngtánbīng, yào huó xué huó yòng cái xíng.
学习   不  能       纸上谈兵，         要   活    学   活    用     才   行。
Learning is not about empty talk. You need to use what you learn.

Yào chénggōng jiù yào fùzhū xíngdòng, zhǐ kào zhǐshàngtánbīng shì bù xíng de.
要     成功           就  要   付诸     行动，    只 靠      纸上谈兵         是  不  行   的。
You must act if you want to succeed. It is no use to be an armchair strategist.

Next time, I’ll show you some basic Mandarin for kids. Bye!

An interesting Mandarin online lesson: “此地无银三百两(ci3 di4 wu2 yin2 san1 bai3 liang3)”

We always are willing to share our happiness to others when we meet something funny. Today, I’ll tell you a really interesting Chinese idiom named “此地无银三百两(ci3 di4 wu2 yin2 san1 bai3 liang3)”. The literal meaning of the idiom is that there are no 300 taels of silver buried here. The first time I heard about the story of this idiom from a Chinese school, I totally couldn’t stopped laughing for the stupid leading character in the origin of the idiom.

Long time ago, there was a person named “张三(zhang1 san1)” who was a wiseacre. With he save up to three hundreds taels of silver he became more and more anxious, the reason is that he had no idea where the taels can be conserved. After brooding, he decided to dig a hole to bury three hundreds taels of silver in the backyard, and then he inserted a board on the ground. I believe that people who have learnt ap Chinese online course or who is learning AP Chinese prep may know what character had been written on the board. Yeah, he just wrote “此地无银三百两(ci3 di4 wu2 yin2 san1 bai3 liang3)” on the board. Which means a guilty person gives himself away by conspicuously protesting his innocence.

I hope this idiom of Mandarin online lessons can make you laugh meanwhile help you increase understanding of Chinese culture in Chinese idiom. It is my honor to introduce a funny phrase for you, have a good time, goodbye!

“滥竽充数 (Lànyúchōngshù)” Fill a Post without Real Qualifications

Today we will learn a funny idiom——“滥竽充数 (Lànyúchōngshù)”. It is not basic Mandarin for kids. It is an idiom full of meaning. So let’s go and see the origin of the idiom “滥竽充数 (Lànyúchōngshù)” first.

In the Warring States Period of China, a king named Qixuan liked listening to the "合奏 (hézòu) instrumental ensemble" of Yu (an instrument in ancient China). The more bandsmen played it, the happier he would be. Mr. Nanguo was a man who didn't like to work hard but liked to brag. When he heard the king Qixuan wanted to organize a bigger band, he told the king Qixuan that he was an expert in playing the Yu. So the king Qixuan happily invited him to join the band. When playing Yu, he just sat together with other bandsmen and acted as he spared no effort. But in fact, he couldn't play it at all. He made his living by acting like this for many years until the king Qixuan died.

After the king Qixuan died, his son Qimin took over. He didn't like listening to the instrumental ensemble of Yu at all. He liked listening to the "独奏 (dúzòu) solo" of Yu. So he only asked one bandsman to play the Yu for him each time. In this case, Mr. Nanguo had no way but to run away.

This Chinese idiom tells us that we should tell things as they are and be honest, it is good Chinese for teens. In modern Chinese, this Chinese idiom is used to describe people who fill in a post without real qualifications. If you were learning ap Chinese online course, you need to know how to use this idiom. For example:


Wǒ bú tài huì chànggē, zài héchàngduì lǐ zhǐ shì lànyúchōngshù ér yǐ.
我 不 太 会 唱歌，在合唱队里 只 是 滥竽充数 而 已。
I am not good at singing. I just fill a post without real qualifications in the chorus team.


So if you are working on AP Chinese prep, just be honest with yourself in learning Chinese and improve yourself step by step. Never be the one who is “滥竽充数 (Lànyúchōngshù)”.