半瓶水响叮当

半瓶水響叮噹

bànpíngshuǐxiǎngdīngdāng

idiom

Meanings

1 empty vessels make the most noise
2 a half-empty bottle rattles loudly
3 those who know little show off the most

Characters

to make a sound

(onomatopoeia: clink)

(onomatopoeia: clang)

Examples

他这点知识就到处炫耀，真是半瓶水响叮当。

Tā zhè diǎn zhīshi jiù dàochù xuànyào, zhēn shì bàn píng shuǐ xiǎng dīngdāng.

With his thin knowledge he shows off everywhere — truly an empty vessel making the most noise.

做学问最忌半瓶水响叮当。

Zuò xuéwèn zuì jì bàn píng shuǐ xiǎng dīngdāng.

In scholarship, the worst flaw is being a half-full bottle that rattles.

Tips

memory

Tap a full bottle: silent. Tap a half-empty bottle: it rattles. The image: shallow people make the most noise. Variant: 半瓶醋 (bànpíngcù, dabbler / 'half-bottle of vinegar').

Stroke Order

半 bàn

瓶 píng

水 shuǐ

响 xiǎng

叮 dīng

当 dāng