dài

骀

Character · NounTraditional駘

inferior horse; metaphor for mediocrity

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 4 examples
1.

noun

inferior horse; nag

literary

A literary term for a horse of poor quality or stamina.

Cǐ此
nǎi乃
nú驽
dài骀
 ，
bù不
kān堪
dà大
yòng用
 。

This is an inferior horse, unfit for important tasks.

Jūn军
zhōng中
qǐ岂
róng容
nú驽
dài骀
chōng充
shù数
 ？

How can the army tolerate inferior horses making up the numbers?

2.

noun

mediocre person; person of limited ability

literary

Used metaphorically, especially in the compound 驽骀, to describe a person of little talent or capability. Often self-deprecating.

Zài在
xià下
bù不
guò过
nú驽
dài骀
 ，
qǐ岂
gǎn敢
yǔ与
zhū诸
xián贤
bǐ比
jiān肩
 。

I am merely a person of limited talent; how dare I compare myself with you wise sirs?

Gōng公
sī司
yòng用
rén人
 ，
yīng应
tài汰
qù去
nú驽
dài骀
 ，
zhuó擢
shēng升
jùn俊
jié杰
 。

When hiring, a company should weed out the mediocre and promote the talented.