画虎类犬

畫虎類犬

huàhǔ-lèiquǎn

idiom

Meanings

1 trying to draw a tiger but ending up with a dog
2 an overambitious imitation that falls flat

Characters

to draw / paint

Examples

HSK 4

他学别人的讲课方式，结果画虎类犬。

Tā xué biérén de jiǎngkè fāngshì, jiéguǒ huàhǔ-lèiquǎn.

He copied another teacher's lecturing style, but ended up with a poor imitation.

HSK 6

模仿大师的风格弄不好就画虎类犬。

Mófǎng dàshī de fēnggé nòng bùhǎo jiù huàhǔ-lèiquǎn.

Imitating a master's style badly is like drawing a tiger and ending up with a dog.

Tips

history

From 《后汉书·马援传》: Han general 马援 warned his nephews against imitating the reckless knight-errant 杜季良, saying they might 'draw a tiger and end up with a dog' - unable to match the original and only making themselves look foolish.

Stroke Order

画 huà

虎 hǔ

类 lèi

犬 quǎn