gěng
duǎn
shēn

idiom

Meaning of 绠短汲深

绠短汲深 means short rope trying to draw water from a deep well; inadequate ability for a great task. Pronounced gěng duǎn jí shēn.

  • short rope trying to draw water from a deep well; inadequate ability for a great task

Definitions & Examples

zhòng
rèn
 
kǒng
gěng
duǎn
shēn
 
nán
shèng
rèn
 

I'm afraid I am inadequate for such a heavy responsibility and cannot shoulder it.

Chéng
méng
tái
 
ràng
zhè
ge
xiàng
 
dàn
shēn
zhī
gěng
duǎn
shēn
 
hái
qǐng
lìng
qǐng
gāo
míng
 

I am honored by your confidence in letting me lead this project, but knowing my limitations, I must ask you to find someone more capable.

rén
yòng
 
gěng
duǎn
shēn
 
lái
xíng
róng
cái
shū
què
shēn
gāo
wèi
de
qíng
xíng
 

Ancient people used the idiom 'short rope to draw from a deep well' to describe a situation where someone of little virtue and shallow talent holds a high position.