雕虫小技 (diāo chóng xiǎo jì) — trivial skill; insignificant accomplishment (of…

Definition

A humble, self-deprecating idiom meaning one's skill is small and unimportant — a polite way to downplay your own ability in front of experts.

idiom

trivial skillinsignificant accomplishment (often used humbly or dismissively)

雕虫小技，。
Tā qiān xū dì shuō zì jǐ zhī huì yì xiē diāo chóng xiǎo jì, shàng bù liǎo tái miàn.
He humbly said he only knows some trivial skills that aren't worthy of the stage.
雕虫小技？。
Zhè zhǒng diāo chóng xiǎo jì yě gǎn ná chū lái xuàn yào? zhēn shì kě xiào.
Daring to show off such a petty trick? How ridiculous.
，雕虫小技。
Zài zhēn zhèng de zhuān jiā miàn qián, wǒ zhè bú guò shì diāo chóng xiǎo jì bà liǎo.
In front of a true expert, what I do is nothing more than an insignificant skill.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

周隹雕

Meaning part形符xíngfú

隹隹zhuī

Sound part声符shēngfú

周

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

雕 pairs 隹, a bird radical, with 周, which supplies the sound.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 蟲; 虫 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 蟲 is the one the reference discusses; 虫 is also a traditional character on its own.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape of 小 comes from three small dots, later elongated into its strokes; the apparent parts 八 and 丨 are a later way of seeing it.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

扌支技

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

支

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

技 pairs 扌 (hand) with 支, which gives the sound. The hand part fits the idea of skill or ability done with the hands.