unable to attain what's high, unwilling to settle for what's low
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
unable to attain what's high; unwilling to settle for what's low
neutralThis idiom describes a common situation where someone's aspirations are too high to be realized, but they refuse to accept more realistic, lower alternatives. It often carries a slightly negative or critical tone, implying the person is being too picky or unrealistic.
Tā他
zhǎo找
gōng工
zuò作
gāo高
bù不
chéng成
dī低
bù不
jiù就
，
yǐ已
jīng经
zài在
jiā家
dài待
yè业
bàn半
nián年
le了
。
He can't get a high-paying job and won't take a low-paying one, so he's been unemployed at home for half a year.
Zé择
ǒu偶
biāo标
zhǔn准
bù不
néng能
tài太
tiāo挑
tī剔
，
fǒu否
zé则
róng容
yì易
gāo高
bù不
chéng成
dī低
bù不
jiù就
。
Your standards for a partner shouldn't be too picky, or you'll easily end up unable to find anyone suitable.
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Zài在
xuǎn选
zé择
dà大
xué学
zhuān专
yè业
de的
wèn问
tí题
shàng上
，
tā他
xiàn陷
rù入
le了
gāo高
bù不
chéng成
dī低
bù不
jiù就
de的
kùn困
jìng境
。
When choosing a university major, he found himself in the dilemma of being unable to get into his top choice and unwilling to accept his backups.