“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)”.