蜻蜓点水 (qīng tíng diǎn shuǐ) — (idiom) to do something superficially; to skim the surface; to touch on a topic without depth
Definition
A chengyu meaning to do something only on the surface, without depth — like a dragonfly skimming water. Used to criticize work or study that lacks real substance.
idiom
to do something superficiallyto skim the surfaceto touch on a topic without depth
Examples
- 蜻蜓点水，。Tā xué xí zǒng shì qīng tíng diǎn shuǐ, bù kěn shēn rù.He always skims the surface in his studies, unwilling to go deep.
- 蜻蜓点水，。Zhè běn shū zhǐ shì qīng tíng diǎn shuǐ dì jiè shào le lì shǐ, bú gòu xiáng xì.This book only touches lightly on history, not detailed enough.
- 蜻蜓点水，。Zuò yán jiū bù néng qīng tíng diǎn shuǐ, xū yào rèn zhēn zuān yán.In research, you can't just skim the surface; you need to delve deeply.
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