雕虫小技 (diāo chóng xiǎo jì) — trivial skill; insignificant accomplishment (often used humbly or dismissively)
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)
Examples
- 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.
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