阶下汉

階下漢

jiēxiàhàn

idiom

Meanings

1 (fig.) someone who hasn't yet entered a field; an outsider / beginner
2 a novice standing at the steps, not yet admitted to the hall

Characters

steps; threshold

Examples

在围棋方面，我还是个阶下汉。

Zài wéiqí fāngmiàn, wǒ háishi ge jiēxiàhàn.

When it comes to Go, I'm still just an outsider who hasn't gotten past the threshold.

对于量子物理，我完全是阶下汉。

Duìyú liàngzǐ wùlǐ, wǒ wánquán shì jiēxiàhàn.

With quantum physics I'm a complete beginner, standing outside the door.

Tips

memory

Imagine an old-style hall (堂) that you reach by climbing steps (阶). A 阶下汉 is someone still at the foot of the steps — you haven't been admitted into the discipline yet. Compare 入门 ("to enter the door" = to become a beginner).

Stroke Order

阶 jiē

下 xià

汉 hàn