半瓶醋

bànpíngcù

idiom #67,874

Meanings

1 a dabbler who thinks they're an expert
2 someone with shallow knowledge who talks big
3 half-baked know-it-all

Characters

Examples

HSK 4

他懂点皮毛就到处讲，典型的半瓶醋。

Tā dǒng diǎn pímáo jiù dàochù jiǎng, diǎnxíng de bànpíngcù.

He picks up a scrap of something and lectures everyone - a classic half-baked know-it-all.

HSK 6

做事要踏实，别做半瓶醋。

Zuòshì yào tāshi, bié zuò bànpíngcù.

Do your work solidly - don't be a half-bottle dabbler.

HSK 7-9

别听半瓶醋瞎指挥。

Bié tīng bànpíngcù xiā zhǐhuī.

Don't let a dabbler who talks big run the show.

Tips

memory

A full vinegar bottle carried steadily doesn't slosh; a half-full one sloshes the loudest. The fuller your knowledge, the quieter you tend to be. Also said 半瓶子醋.

Stroke Order

半 bàn

瓶 píng

醋 cù