井底之蛙

jǐng dǐ zhī wā

  • Meaning

    Literal

    The frog at the bottom of the well

    Usage

    Refers to a person with limited outlook, wisdom, or life experience; a narrow-minded person

  • Connotation

    Negative

  • Usage Examples

    人要放开视野,不能做井底之蛙 | Rén yào fàng kāi shìyě, bùnéng zuò jǐngdǐzhīwā
    People must broaden their minds. They cannot be like frogs at the bottom of a well
    [Source]

    他真像只井底之蛙,不仅见识少,还嘲笑别人 | Tā zhēn xiàng zhǐ jǐngdǐzhīwā, bùjǐn jiànshì shǎo, hái cháoxiào biérén
    He really appears to be narrow-minded. Not only does he lack any kind of life experience, but he also mocks other people
    [Source]

  • Equivalents

    English

    None

    Chinese

    None

  • Entry Notes

    Shoutout to 郭老师 for teaching me this one!

    商汤 (Shāng Tāng) was the founder of the Shang Dynasty (1600 - 1046 BC); 大禹 (Dà Yǔ) was a mythical leader who tamed floodwaters (this is a story in it and of itself, and I won't cover it here.)

  • Origin

    《庄子》(Zhuāng Zǐ), a work written by 庄子 (Zhuāng Zǐ, the same as in the title) during the Warring States Period (475 - 221 BC)

  • Story

    There was a frog who resided in a dried-out well. He loved his home, and he would boast about it whenever he got the chance.

    One day, he heard a noise outside his well and hopped up to take a look. He saw a sea turtle nearby, and he immediately bellowed for the turtle to come see him. When the turtle obliged, the frog immediately began to sing praises about his wonderful home and how it suited his every need.

    The frog's passionate words struck the turtle to the core, and he slowly inched forward so that he could take a look at the well's depths. When he reached the rim and peered down, however, he saw a pool of foul-smelling, algae-infested muddy water. On top of that, he also got his two front legs stuck on some of the rim's bricks. With no incentive or ability to continue onwards, he furrowed his turtle brow and began to retreat.

    The frog, utterly oblivious to the turtle's reaction, continued to boast, but unexpectedly, the turtle cut him off by asking whether the frog had ever seen the sea. The frog hadn't, so the turtle explained that his own home was indescribably vast and deep, and was said to have been so since the times of great Chinese figures like 大禹 (Dà Yǔ) and 商汤 (Shāng Tāng).

    Upon hearing this, the frog widened his eyes and was completely dumbfounded at the evidence of his own ignorance.

  • Citations and Helpful Resources

    • 汉语成语小词典 (hànyǔ chéngyǔ xiǎo cídiǎn)
    • 现代汉语规范词典 (xiàndài hànyǔ guīfàn cídiǎn)
    • 多功能成语词典 (duō gōngnéng chéngyǔ cídiǎn)
    • 汉语大词典 (hànyǔ dà cídiǎn)
    • ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary
    • Pleco Basic Chinese-English Dictionary
    • 百度百科[x]
    • 成语 t086[x]
    • 汉语大词典[x]
    • 瑞文网[x]
    • 全故事网[x]