雕虫小技

雕蟲小技
diāochóngxiǎojì
idiom #30,934

Meanings

  1. 1 a trifling skill
  2. 2 a petty trick of no real worth
  3. 3 an insignificant talent

Examples

Zhè zhǐshì diāochóngxiǎojì, bù zhí yī tí.
This is just a trifling skill, hardly worth mentioning.
Bié yòng diāochóngxiǎojì duìfu wǒ.
Don't try your petty tricks on me.

Tips

history
From 《·》 (History of the Northern Dynasties, Biography of Li Hun): "雕虫小技不如不如" — "At the small art of carving insect-script, I am no match for you; at affairs of state and court ritual, you are no match for me." here originally referred to , an ornate ancient calligraphy style — fancy decorative writing dismissed as a frivolous skill compared to statecraft.
register
Often used as a self-deprecating disclaimer when showing off a skill — "oh, just a small trick" — though it can also be sarcastic when belittling someone else's flashy but shallow ability.

Stroke Order

diāo
chóng
xiǎo