short rope to draw from a deep well; inadequate ability for a great task
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
short rope trying to draw water from a deep well; inadequate ability for a great task
humbleUsed when modestly declining a task or position one feels unqualified for. The primary metaphor is that one's ability is too limited (the short rope) to handle a significant responsibility (the deep well).
Rú如
cǐ此
zhòng重
rèn任
，
wǒ我
kǒng恐
gěng绠
duǎn短
jí汲
shēn深
，
nán难
yǐ以
shèng胜
rèn任
。
I'm afraid I am inadequate for such a heavy responsibility and cannot shoulder it.
Chéng承
méng蒙
tái抬
jǔ举
，
ràng让
wǒ我
fù负
zé责
zhè这
ge个
xiàng项
mù目
，
dàn但
wǒ我
shēn深
zhī知
gěng绠
duǎn短
jí汲
shēn深
，
hái还
qǐng请
lìng另
qǐng请
gāo高
míng明
。
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.
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Gǔ古
rén人
yòng用
“
gěng绠
duǎn短
jí汲
shēn深
”
lái来
xíng形
róng容
dé德
bó薄
cái才
shū疏
què却
shēn身
jū居
gāo高
wèi位
de的
qíng情
xíng形
。
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.