班门弄斧

班門弄斧

bānménnòngfǔ

idiom #51,317

Meanings

1 wielding an axe at Lu Ban's door
2 to show off in front of an expert

Characters

Ban (i.e. Lu Ban, master carpenter)

to play with / wield

Examples

在老师面前谈这个问题，真是班门弄斧。

Zài lǎoshī miànqián tán zhège wèntí, zhēn shì bānménnòngfǔ.

Discussing this topic in front of the teacher is like wielding an axe at Lu Ban's door.

我不敢班门弄斧，请您多指教。

Wǒ bù gǎn bānménnòngfǔ, qǐng nín duō zhǐjiào.

I would not dare show off in front of an expert — please give me your guidance.

Tips

history

班 refers to Lu Ban (鲁班), the legendary Spring and Autumn period master carpenter revered as the patron saint of Chinese builders. The phrase was popularized by 欧阳修 in a Song letter: 'Waving an axe at Ban's gate — how laughable.' Often used as a humble disclaimer when about to present one's own work.

Stroke Order

班 bān

门 mén

弄 nòng

斧 fǔ