scales and claws; fragments; scraps; bits and pieces
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
scales and claws; (figurative) fragments; scraps; bits and pieces of information
literaryOriginally referring to the scales and claws of fish or dragons. In literary contexts, it serves as a metaphor for scattered, incomplete fragments of information, literature, or historical records. Most commonly appears in the set phrase "一鳞半爪" (yī lín bàn zhǎo), meaning "just a few scattered bits."
Cóng从
zhè这
xiē些
gǔ古
jí籍
lín鳞
zhǎo爪
zhōng中
，
kě可
kuī窥
jiàn见
dāng当
shí时
shè社
huì会
fēng风
mào貌
。
From these fragments of ancient books, one can catch a glimpse of the social customs of that time.
Zhè这
piān篇
bào报
dào道
zhǐ只
shì是
shì事
jiàn件
lín鳞
zhǎo爪
，
zhēn真
xiàng相
shàng尚
dài待
chá查
míng明
。
This report covers only fragments of the incident; the truth remains to be investigated.
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Tā他
duì对
zhè这
duàn段
lì历
shǐ史
de的
liǎo了
jiě解
jǐn仅
dé得
yī一
lín鳞
bàn半
zhǎo爪
。
His understanding of this period of history is only fragmentary at best.